Statement: CUTRIC Responds to Ontario’s Provincial Budget
Dr. Josipa Petrunic, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium, released the following statement related to the Ontario Government’s provincial budget.
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unparalleled challenges for Ontario, and it is important that the provincial government’s budget remains focused on supporting our most vulnerable amidst a second wave.
Through the most restrictive lockdown measures, public transit moved essential workers to the frontlines, while keeping our communities connected. The road to recovery will be long, but as we chart a path forward we must position ourselves early to use this opportunity to transform our society as we build back better – and that means investing strategically in public transit and innovation in this space, like hydrogen for electric buses.
CUTRIC, responsible for the development and commercialization of technologies required for a 21st century low-carbon green economy, has made clear that investing in public transit creates jobs and economic prosperity while also improving the environment and making our cities more accessible to everyone.
Now is the time for bold leadership, and the provincial budget is one of many steps we need to take together to lay the groundwork to build back a stronger and more resilient province. Our members across transit agencies, advanced manufacturers, utilities, government agencies, academics and not-for-profits, look forward to getting to work on our many ongoing and new projects to the benefit of millions in our cities.
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