Latest news with #PrabmeetSarkaria
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Ford, Chow set to speak at joint announcement in Toronto on Tuesday
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow will be speaking at a news conference on Tuesday morning in Toronto, the premier's office said. They will be joined by Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria, and Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma, spokesperson Hannah Jensen said. The conference is expected to be related to transit. It is set to begin at 8:45 a.m. This comes after Ford returned from a meeting in Boston on Monday, along with four other Canadian premiers, to discuss trade with some northeastern U.S. governors. The governors and premiers discussed the impacts of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and how U.S. and Canadian leaders "can continue to work together to maintain economic relations that benefit local businesses and residents," according to a news release ahead of the event from the host, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey. Speaking to reports Monday afternoon, Ford said he's spoken to leaders from around the world who are "dumbfounded" by Trump's rhetoric.
Global News
13-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Metrolinx spent $21K entering its own communications team into awards
Ontario's provincial transit agency is facing criticism and questions — including from the minister responsible for its work — after spending tens of thousands of dollars entering its own public relations content into awards programs. Metrolinx, which runs the GO Transit network and leads the government's transit expansion projects, has a large communications team responsible for promoting its work in Toronto and southern Ontario. Data shared by the agency with Global News shows its communications department has spent $21,483.93 in the last year entering into various awards. 'No prize money was generated,' a spokesperson said. In a statement, Metrolinx said it had entered nine communications awards programs in various categories, 'including public service, education and discovery, history, and social responsibility.' A spokesperson for Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria blasted the agency for its spending and said his office would immediately order them to stop after learning about the costs through questions from Global News. Story continues below advertisement 'This is an unacceptable use of taxpayer dollars and Minister Sarkaria has sent a letter to direct Metrolinx to immediately stop all entries going forward,' the spokesperson wrote in a statement. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We are delivering the largest transit expansion in North America and Metrolinx needs to remain focused on building the critical infrastructure our growing province needs.' Metrolinx confirmed the money spent came from its existing communications budget and defended the move as necessary for its professional development. 'It is standard for public and private sector organizations to apply to award programs as part of their communications practices,' a spokesperson for the transit agency said. 'Investment in awards consideration is similar to investments in training or technology — the entry process encourages teams to reflect, measure outcomes, and articulate the impact of their communications.' Commercials and other marketing materials from Metrolinx may also have been entered into awards, the agency said, but those entries would have been done by the companies contracted to produce the commercials and therefore would not have cost the taxpayer. The transit agency is responsible for working on projects like the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and the Finch West LRT, neither of which has an official opening date. Metrolinx, whenever asked, has refused to disclose them. Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said the Metrolinx communication team should focus on pushing out information on existing, delayed projects rather than entering into awards. Story continues below advertisement 'The communication on the Eglinton Crosstown has been horrendous, so I can't imagine them winning an award for communications that have essentially said we want to communicate that we have nothing to communicate,' he said. Metrolinx also recently saw a deal that was supposed to run for almost a quarter of a century fall apart less than three years after the initial paperwork was signed. It said it was working on an 'amicable settlement' to end that contract — but has declined to answer questions about the cost or why the deal fell apart.
CTV News
01-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Ford government officially lifts tolls on stretch of Hwy. 407 East, saving drivers $7,200 a year
Premier Doug Ford is making good on a key election promise, with tolls officially lifted today on the stretch of provincially owned Highway 407 East. The move completes Ford's pledge to remove tolls from the Ontario-owned portion of Highway 407 between Brock Road in Pickering and Highway 35/115 in Clarington. . 'This is one of our campaign commitments that premier Ford made early on,' Ontario's Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria, told CP24. 'It follows the trend of this government removing tools that were put in place by previous governments. First, we started with the 412, 418… and now this was the last remaining public toll in the province of Ontario, as of today, we are getting rid of it.' While the privately owned portion of the highway will still charge tolls, the change marks the end of tolls on any provincially owned highways in Ontario — a milestone that the government is touting as both economic relief and a way to ease traffic on the heavily congested Highway 401. The province estimates that daily commuters using the newly free section of 407 will save as much as $7,200 a annually. Ford, in a social media post, said: 'As of today, we've taken tolls off Highway 407 East, saving daily commuters $7,200 each year. That means that there isn't a single publicly-owned tolled highway anywhere in Ontario—and under our government, there never will be again.' As of today, we've taken tolls off Highway 407 East, saving daily commuters $7,200 each year. That means that there isn't a single publicly-owned tolled highway anywhere in Ontario - and under our government, there never will be again. — Doug Ford (@fordnation) June 1, 2025 The removal of tolls aligns with Ford's broader affordability agenda, which includes the permanent cut to Ontario's gas tax. In a previous news release, Ford said, 'I know that families and business owners are worried about rising costs, especially as U.S. tariffs threaten to raise the price of everyday essentials. That's why we're cutting the gas tax permanently and taking tolls off Highway 407 East, and that's why we'll always keep looking for ways to put more money back into the pockets of Ontario families.' In 2024, the government passed legislation banning the introduction of new tolls on provincial highways, effectively ensuring this approach remains in place long-term. 'We have to recognize… the 401 is a significant economic corridor for all of us,' said Sarkaria. 'Ultimately, we want to see people using more of our highways in a way that doesn't put any pressure or cost on that.' However, some experts argue that the most effective way to manage gridlock is not toll removal but rather congestion pricing — charging drivers more to use major routes like the 401 during peak times. A feasibility study on the tunnel beneath the 401 is also underway. 'The tunnel is something that we're moving forward with,' Sarkaria emphasized. 'We actually just issued the RFP on it a couple of weeks ago to understand the feasibility of it as well.' The government has teased that the tunnel could include transit options and help move people and goods more efficiently through the corridor. 'We're exploring an express tunnel, and that would be to move traffic as quickly as possible, with the possibility of transit underneath as well,' Sarkaria said. 'We know that in the next 10 to 15 to 20 years, travel times on the 401 will almost double. We're going to see significant population growth, and we need to be prepared for the future.' Sarkaria added, 'we need to think outside the box.'
CBC
23-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Contractors submitting proposals for work along Hamilton LRT track
The Ontario government is reporting another step forward in Hamilton's long-awaited LRT construction. The province has invited four teams to submit proposals for work including building and relocating infrastructure and traffic control signals along the planned 14-kilometre route, the Ministry of Transportation said in a news release Wednesday. This process started in November when the province asked contractors to pre-apply to submit proposals for work. At the time, the Transport Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said we were "one step closer" to seeing shovels in the ground, which is also what he said in a Wednesday news release. He has not shared when the LRT might open. Provincial transit agency Metrolinx is progressing on "advanced early works projects," with five completed and four more underway, including water main, hydro and telecommunications upgrades, interim president Michael Lindsay said in the news release. "We're excited to continue working collaboratively with the federal and provincial governments as well as the City of Hamilton to deliver this important transit project." It's still unclear who will operate the LRT. After much debate last year, Hamilton city council decided to recommend the line be operated by a third party for the first 10 years of its life, before being taken over by the municipality. That was contrary to the wishes of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents city bus drivers. In November, then-Metrolinx-CEO Phil Verster said the agency had not made that decision. The province says the LRT will have 17 stops, running from McMaster University in the city's west to Eastgate Square in the east. It is expected to serve 50,000 daily commuters. The $3.4-billion project is part of a number of transit projects the province has promised, including eventually establishing faster, all-day GO Transit on "core routes" including the Lakeshore lines between the GTA and Niagara.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CN to Invest $600 Million in Ontario to Build Capacity and Power Sustainable Growth
TORONTO, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today plans to invest approximately $600 million CAD in Ontario, as part of its 2025 capital investment program. This investment will support track maintenance and strategic infrastructure initiatives in the province. This includes projects that continue to invest in technology as well as ongoing multi-year projects that will build capacity and support growth across the network. These projects will help ensure the safe movement of goods and support long-term sustainable growth in Ontario and across CN's network. 'We believe that investing in our network is about building for the future. Our continued infrastructure investment in Ontario will help strengthen the resiliency, and efficiency of our network across the province. Our focus remains on providing exceptional service to our customers and supply chain partners, supporting strong economic growth for North America and across the communities where we operate.' - Tracy Robinson, President and Chief Executive Officer of CN 'CN is a key partner in strengthening Ontario's economy and supply chains. Our government is building a more connected, competitive province by investing in infrastructure that reduces gridlock and supports long-term growth. We welcome CN's continued investment into Ontario, a commitment that will help goods move more efficiently, create good-paying jobs, and build a stronger future for communities across the province.' - Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation for Ontario In 2024, CN invested approximately $528 million CAD in Ontario for track maintenance and key infrastructure initiatives. Key highlights from this investment includes: Over $49 million to support construction of the Milton Logistics Hub, a multi year project supporting Canada's busiest and fastest growing region Over $60 million invested with its project partners, towards the completion of Phase 1 and advancement of Phase 2 of the new high efficiency loading fuel terminal at CN's MacMillan Yard in Vaughn, Ontario, serving customers in the Greater Toronto Area. Ontario in Numbers: Employees: approximately 4,093 Railroad route miles operated: 2,354 Community investments: C$3 million in 2024 Local spending: C$3 billion in 2024 Cash taxes paid: C$138 million in 2024 CN Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements by CN included in this news release constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities laws. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. CN cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as 'believes,' 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'assumes,' 'outlook,' 'plans,' 'targets,' or other similar words. Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement. About CNCN powers the economy by safely transporting more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year for its customers. With its nearly 20,000-mile rail network and related transportation services, CN connects Canada's Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. Midwest and the U.S. Gulf Coast, contributing to sustainable trade and the prosperity of the communities in which it operates since Michnowski Stacy Alderson Senior Manager Assistant Vice-President Media Relations Investor Relations (438) 596-4329 (514) 399-0052 media@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
