Good morning, Speaker. People in my riding of Flamborough–Glanbrook rely on transit to get where they need to go every single day, and it’s not uncommon for me to hear about their frustrations with the lack of reliable transit options available in our community. The members opposite had over a decade to address the transit gap that exists in Hamilton, and while they talked a lot about building, they never got it done.

Speaker, can the Minister of Transportation please tell this House what our government is doing to build the transit connections the people of Hamilton deserve?

Hamilton has seen significant growth as a destination to live, work and play. By 2046, the city of Hamilton could see its population grow by up to 35%. If you consider this growth, the need to invest in and build public transit is clear. But it’s not just about accommodating this growth; it’s also about protecting our economy.

Speaker, could the Minister of Transportation please speak about the economic significance of this project?

Thank you to the member from Flamborough–Glanbrook for the question. Under Premier Ford’s leadership, our government is getting shovels in the ground to build more transit in Hamilton and across the province.

Just a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of joining the Premier and my colleagues from Hamilton to announce that we are moving ahead with building the new Confederation GO station. The new station will connect Hamilton with the GO train network, eventually offering two-way, all-day GO service along the Lakeshore West line to Toronto and Niagara Falls. It will also provide better connections to existing transit and GO bus services in these communities.

Speaker, with projects like the Confederation GO station and the Hamilton LRT already under way, our PC government has a plan to get the people of Hamilton connected, and we are getting it done.

Speaker, this government is focused on an agenda of prosperity, and we are moving full steam ahead with our historic plans to build and expand public transit, because now is not the time for inaction. Our unprecedented investments to get critical infrastructure projects like the Confederation GO station built will stimulate future growth and job creation. By 2041, over 100,000 people and 63,000 jobs will be located within five kilometres of this new station. Under Premier Ford’s leadership, we are connecting more people to jobs, housing and transit in one of the fastest-growing regions of the province. This will unlock access to Ontario’s full potential and set the foundation for long-term economic growth in our province.