By Dylana Milobar

Trans Canada four-laning to be discussed following federal Infrastructure Minister visit

Feb 14, 2019 | 3:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities made an appearance in Kamloops today, and saw firsthand what the federal government’s investment in transit has become.

Last August, the Canadian Government invested $5.8 million to help upgrade Kamloops transit to NextRide technology, which features real-time bus location tracking on an app for users. 

Hon. François-Philippe Champagne toured the transit facility on Ord Road today (Feb. 14), and says he was pleased to see progress being made in the transportation sector.

Afterwards, the minister met with Thompson-Nicola Regional District directors, including Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian, to discuss various infrastructure needs for the area. 

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“Infrastructure touches pretty much every family, every worker, every community. It’s about water, waste water, it’s about roads, it’s about making sure that our goods can free flow to markets,” he explains. “In Vancouver, I know there are a lot of issues about mobility, and when you talk about rural BC, there’s a lot of talk about connectivity.”

While in British Columbia, the Minister notes he will also be discussing progress on the Trans Canada Highway four-laning project from Kamloops to the Alberta border next week with BC Transportation Minister Claire Trevena. 

“Highway 1, a few people have talked to me about. What I said to the mayor (Ken Christian), and obviously in cooperation with the province, we’ll be there. I know there’s a lot of issues. There’s segments we’re looking at with Minister Trevena, we have an extremely good relationship, and I’ll be conveying to her what I know and what I heard.”

“Canadians elect people at the municipal level, provincial, federal, they just want things to work. So our job is to get things done, and making sure that our workers will be there for the summer.”

As for future investments to fix aging infrastructure in the Kamloops area, he says they plan to utilize the federal government’s 10-year agreement with the provincial government.

“We have said that we would be there to be supportive of the province, that’s why we put in more than $4.1 billion, I think it’s quite historic in terms of how much money we’re willing to co-invest with the province. Now, we need to work with our provincial colleagues to see the segments that need the most improvements.”