A national transportation strategy that would help pay a big chunk of the Capital Region’s proposed $900-million light-rapid transit system is “absolutely needed,” says Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce CEO Bruce Carter.

Asked to address the Parliamentary standing committee responsible for devising a federal transportation plan by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Carter said civic politicians across the country need to know how much federal transportation infrastructure money will be available to cities as part of a national strategy to help pay for new and badly needed rapid public transit systems like the one proposed in the Capital region.

Greater Victoria politicians say the proposed system can only go ahead if both Ottawa and the province each contribute one-third of the capital costs.

To date neither senior level of government has agreed.