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Eby travels to Ottawa to lobby Carney for B.C. major projects funding

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Wednesday, September 17th 2025 at 13:22 GMT by Toronto Star
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Premier David Eby heads to Ottawa to lobby Minister Carney for federal cash to power BC’s biggest projects

In a strategic bid to secure the next wave of infrastructure funding for British Columbia, Premier David Eby flew to Ottawa early this week to sit down with Minister Carney—Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities—on the future of the province’s major projects. The meeting comes as the federal government, led by Prime Minister Justin Carney, rolls out a $10.8 billion infrastructure package for 2024‑25, and the province is hoping to tap into that pot for projects that could bring thousands of jobs and billions in economic return.

The Premier’s visit was no surprise to those who know how critical funding is to the provincial agenda. In recent weeks, BC’s government has unveiled a slate of projects—ranging from the much‑anticipated Sea‑to‑Sky Highway upgrades to a new high‑speed rail corridor linking Vancouver with Kelowna, and a major expansion of the Port of Vancouver’s rail yard—that will require significant federal investment.

Key projects on the agenda

1. Sea‑to‑Sky Highway upgrades – The highway that snakes up the mountains between Vancouver and Whistler is a vital tourism artery and a key link for the province’s north‑west communities. The federal government’s 2024 infrastructure plan includes a $1.5 billion earmark for “major road and bridge projects in the west” and the Premier’s team is pushing to have BC’s portion of the Sea‑to‑Sky upgrades fully funded under that line item. According to the BC Infrastructure Bank, the Sea‑to‑Sky upgrade is a $3.2 billion undertaking that will be financed through a blend of federal, provincial and private sources. The Premier says that the federal contribution would unlock the remaining private capital needed.

2. High‑speed rail corridor – BC’s long‑term plan to create a high‑speed rail link between Vancouver, Whistler, and Kelowna has been a focus of the federal government’s “transportation and mobility” agenda. The Premier has highlighted a $600 million federal contribution that could be matched by the provincial government, with the rest of the capital to be secured through the BC Infrastructure Bank. In his speech on the sidelines of the Canada International Trade Expo, Carney had previously indicated that the federal government is “open to partnership” on projects that stimulate the economy and create jobs.

3. Port of Vancouver rail yard expansion – With the port’s container traffic projected to grow 25 % over the next decade, the expansion of the rail yard is seen as a critical component of the province’s logistics network. The federal government’s “Canadian Port Infrastructure Plan” includes a $1 billion allocation for port infrastructure across the country, and BC is lobbying for a share of that fund.

4. Trans‑Canada Highway (TC Highway) upgrades in the Interior – Carney’s portfolio includes responsibility for the TC Highway, and the Premier is pushing to secure federal funds for upgrading the segment between Hope and Kamloops, which is vital for the movement of goods across the country.

What Carney said

In a pre‑meeting briefing, Carney told reporters that the federal government is “focused on projects that deliver real economic return, improve mobility and enhance environmental sustainability.” The Minister said that the federal commitment to BC will be “measured against the province’s ability to match funding and the public benefit to the province’s residents.” He also noted that the federal government is “prepared to review BC’s proposals under the Infrastructure Canada framework,” which requires that projects meet a set of criteria, including cost‑effectiveness, public benefit and economic impact.

During the meeting, Eby presented a detailed breakdown of the projected costs and expected outcomes for each project, stressing that the federal contribution is essential for the province to meet its climate‑action targets and economic growth objectives. Eby added, “We have a blueprint. We have a plan. We just need the federal partnership to bring it to life.”

Linking the provinces’ and the federal plan

The article notes that BC’s own “BC Infrastructure Bank” (BIB) was established in 2022 to issue loans and leverage private investment. The bank has been praised by federal officials for its ability to “accelerate projects that might otherwise be stalled by funding gaps.” Carney’s office confirmed that the federal government is open to working with the BIB to co‑finance projects, though they will need to ensure that the bank’s lending practices comply with the federal Infrastructure Canada guidelines.

Carney’s remarks were echoed by former Infrastructure Minister Scott Murray in a recent interview with The Globe and Mail. Murray—who was at the helm of the federal infrastructure program during the previous government—told the paper that “the next wave of projects is a priority for the federal government, and the BIB has already shown great promise in accelerating projects.”

What comes next

The Premier’s visit was a pre‑emptive push to secure a larger share of the $10.8 billion federal infrastructure package that is slated to roll out in the next few months. While Carney has not yet confirmed the exact amount that BC will receive, he did say that the federal government is willing to look at “an integrated approach” that combines federal, provincial and private investment.

Eby’s trip also comes at a time when the federal government is negotiating the new “Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB)” expansion, which would bring in an additional $6 billion of capital for projects across the country. The Premier is hoping that the expansion will include a dedicated line for BC’s key infrastructure initiatives.

In a statement issued after the meeting, Eby said, “The federal government’s partnership is the catalyst that will make these projects a reality. We are optimistic that we can secure the necessary funding to make BC a leader in transportation, logistics and climate‑friendly infrastructure.”

For the people of British Columbia, the stakes are high. These projects are projected to create roughly 10,000 new jobs over the next decade, stimulate a $45 billion boost to the provincial economy, and help the province meet its net‑zero carbon goals. The Premier’s successful lobbying could mean that BC gets the federal backing it needs to turn that vision into a reality.