CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - For an organization that provides door-to-door wheelchair accessible vans to help physically challenged Islanders get around, the new infrastructure funding agreement between the provincial and federal governments is “a godsend.”
“Infrastructure is so important in today’s world, especially on P.E.I. When you see two governments come together and they have a commitment to do something like this, I think it’s absolutely great,” said Terry Davis, president of Charlottetown-based Pat and the Elephant, which has been operating a wheelchair accessible van service since 1975.
“This will help us quite a bit.”
The two levels of government signed a new $366.98 million bilateral agreement on Thursday. It was signed at UPEI by Premier Wade MacLauchlan and federal Infrastructure and Communities Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne.
The bulk of the funding ($228.1 million) is for green infrastructure projects, such as greenhouse gas emission reduction, climate change and climate-related disaster mitigation. Infrastructure projects in rural and northern communities is receiving $82.7 million. The projects in this category are expected to improve food security, roads, broadband connectivity, support more efficient and reliable energy and improve education and health facilities for Indigenous people.
The remainder of the funding is set aside for community, culture and recreation projects ($29 million) and public transit ($27.1 million).
Specific projects were not announced as part of Thursday’s news conference.
Davis explained some of the financial challenges facing the organization include servicing and buying new vans as well as paying drivers. For a fee, the organization provides transportation for medical appointments and treatment on the Island and in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Transportation is also provided for other reasons, such as funerals and birthday parties. On an average day, the organization receives between 100 and 120 calls for service.
Bruce MacDougall, president of the Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities and a Summerside city councillor, said municipalities can’t afford to do these projects.
“And, if you can’t afford to do those projects, we’ve got a whole lot of people that’s not working,” he said. “This is win-win. It’s a win for the Island’s economy. It’s a win for our infrastructure and it’s a win for our environment.”
The P.E.I. funding is part of $33 billion in total federal money set aside for bilateral agreements with the provinces and territories. The funding is part of a 12-year, $180 billion Investing in Canada plan.
