Amarjeet Sohi, minister of infrastructure and communities, and Bob Chiarelli, Ontario minister of infrastructure, signed a new bilateral agreement on Wednesday March 14, that will provide more than $11.8 billion in federal funding for infrastructure.

The funding will fall into four streams: public transit, green infrastructure, community, culture and recreation infrastructure, and rural and northern communities infrastructure.

“It’s a big day here in Mississauga,” said Mississauga Ward 6 Coun. Ron Starr, who was MC for the event — held in the bus garage of the Edward J. Dowling Transit Facility.

Through the new agreement, Mississauga will receive $340 million in federal funding to improve transit. “It’s great news. It’s wonderful news,” Starr added.

The province will match the new federal funding through its provincial infrastructure plan, that promises $190 billion in spending over the next 13 years.

Sohi said talks between the province and other levels of government on long-term investments in infrastructure began about two years ago. He said funding was needed to make transformative change.

“We’ve delivered on that ask,” said Sohi. “Our plan is ambitious.”

“All of Peel Region has benefited,” added Chiarelli.

In addition to transit funding for Mississauga, Brampton will also receive $191 million in federal funding for transit and Peel will receive $5 million. These amounts are on top of what the federal government has promised to spend on Metrolinx — another $593 million.

Transit funding is based on ridership of transit systems, said Chiarelli, which is why Toronto will receive $4.9 billion. The focus is funding the areas with the greatest needs.