Feds will stop investing in 'large' road projects, environment minister says

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said Monday the federal government will stop investing in new road infrastructure — a comment that immediately drew attacks from the Opposition Conservatives and some premiers who said the climate activist turned politician is out of touch.

Guilbeault later clarified his remarks, telling reporters Wednesday that he meant to say Ottawa will not put up the cash for «large» road projects.

«Of course we're funding roads. We have programs to fund roads,» he said.

Guilbeault said Monday the federal government will be there to support provinces paying for maintenance but Ottawa has decided that existing road infrastructure «is perfectly adequate to respond to the needs we have.»

«There will be no more envelopes from the federal government to enlarge the road network,» Guilbeault said, according to quotes published in the Montreal Gazette.

«We can very well achieve our goals of economic, social and human development without more enlargement of the road network.»

Guilbeault said the federal government is intent on moving people out of their cars and into public transportation, which the government has spent billions to build.

He said the federal government also wants to encourage «active transit,» which means getting people to walk and cycle.

The minister said federal money that's been spent on asphalt and concrete for roads in the past is «better invested into projects that will help fight climate change and adapt to its impacts.»

No funding for 'large projects'

Pressed by reporters to defend his comments Wednesday, Guilbeault said he should have been «more specific» by stating that the federal government will not be funding «large projects.»

He cited Quebec City's long-proposed third link as one