Ottawa

Federal government pledges $1B for light rail expansion in Ottawa

The Conservative federal government has pledged $1 billion in funding for the expansion of Ottawa's light rail system, according to a letter Orleans MP Royal Galipeau sent the mayor on Wednesday.

Funding announcement comes ahead of October federal election

The federal government announced Wednesday it will pledge $1 billion to fund Ottawa's light rail project expansion. (CBC)

The Conservative federal government has pledged $1 billion in funding for stage two of Ottawa's light rail system, according to a letter Orleans MP Royal Galipeau sent the mayor on Wednesday afternoon.

"We have created an excellent partnership for the Confederation Line, and I am pleased this will continue as we work to extend LRT farther east, west and south with Stage 2," Watson is quoted as saying in an emailed statement Wednesday.

The announcement comes after the Ontario Liberals pledged to financially support Ottawa's light light rail system earlier this year, and ahead of the federal election in October.

"I look forward to formalizing these funding commitments so we can move forward with construction in 2018," Watson said.

Work on stage one of light rail in Ottawa continues and is scheduled to be completed in 2018.