$2 billion fund made permanent

Despite all the moans and groans about the parsimony of Canada’s Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s federal budget, the speech delivered February 26, did have some spending promises for infrastructure. Items of special interest for consulting engineers involved in construction are: $500 million for investment in public transit; $300 million for nuclear energy; and $330 million over two years to improve water supply for First Nations. The Minister also announced that the $2 billion fund for infrastructure investment known as the “Gas Tax Fund” will be made permanent.