Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion at Exhibition GO Station Thursday Morning (source: Liberal Party of Canada via Flickr)

The Federal Election campaign is now 10 days in and today, the Liberals announced details of their policy in regards to public transit and infrastructure. Taking the GO Train from Burlington to Exhibition GO Station today, Dion and several other prominent Toronto-area Liberals gathered to make the announcement. Details of the three-point plan are available here, and summarised below:

• Any future Federal budget surpluses beyond $3-billion will be dedicated to infrastructure, in particular, green initiatives
• A new Crown-controlled, majority owned “Infrastructure Bank” will be establish to leverage the Federal Government’s borrowing power at low interest rates. This money will then be available to municipalities to fund their infrastructure needs, including for public transit. Through this bank, Canadians can also purchase “Green Bonds”, similar to Canada Savings Bonds, with tax-free returns on investment
• A 10-year, $70-billion infrastructure plan, including $8-billion dedicated to a National Transit Strategy for expansion and “greening” of Canada’s transit systems

The announcement also states that a Liberal government would be a “willing partner” in projects such as high-speed rail, which is subject to a study by the Ontario and Québec provincial governments that was announced in January.

Commentary after the jump…

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As a comparison to my photo post from last week, I thought I would share what Highway 401 looks like on a regular day. This scene shouldn’t be a surprise as this highway is travelled by 400,000 to 500,000 vehicles a day, making it the busiest in North America, even beyond the freeway in Los Angeles which sees 350,000 vehicles daily.

You never really appreciate the infrastructure you have, until you don’t have it. This past Sunday, the 401 was closed down between the 400 and the DVP/404 due to an explosion in North York at Sunrise Propane early that morning.

Strangely enough, the lack of traffic left a quiet calm in my apartment, which overlooks the 401 near the Allen. However, commuters on either end of the city were stuck in chaotic traffic.