Trudeau touts federal infrastructure funding in Sault Ste. Marie
Justin Trudeau scheduled to travel later in the day to Thunder Bay
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues a tour of northern Ontario today, with visits in two cities to make announcements connected with his government's transit and infrastructure spending plans.
Trudeau's met with Sault Ste. Marie municipal officials and local business leaders at the city's transit service headquarters Friday morning.
The city's bus services were recently cut amid a municipal budget shortfall.
Trudeau said the $3.4 billion included in last month's federal budget for transit infrastructure will begin rolling out to municipalities this year.
He didn't specify how much individual communities would receive, but he did say Ontario in particular could expect to receive about half the money — $1.5 billion.
Like many communities with largely resource-based economies, Sault Ste. Marie has been struggling with low commodity prices around the globe.
As well, the biggest employer in town — Essar Steel Algoma — has been under bankruptcy protection since last fall.