Thursday, April 25, 2024 
Thursday, April 25, 2024
February 18, 2020
The Liberal government is exploring spending federal cash on a long-considered proposal to link Newfoundland to the mainland.
The proposed link, which could cost up to $2 billion, came up during the fall campaign when the Liberals committed to helping with the project and again in Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna’s mandate letter.
In the letter, effectively the prime minister’s marching orders to cabinet ministers, McKenna was directed to create a national infrastructure fund for “nation-building projects” and to “start by supporting the Newfoundland-Labrador fixed transportation link.”
The notion of connecting Newfoundland to the mainland with some type of fixed link is a long-running idea. The last major study of the project was done by the provincial government in 2004 and then updated in 2018.
The study estimated it would cost just over $2 billion to build a road tunnel or $1.675 billion to build a rail tunnel, which could shuttle cars on an electric train under the Strait of Belle Isle. It would take 15 years to construct and would not actually cut travel times or significantly reduce costs to transport goods. It also estimated it would cost between $20 and $23 million to complete further studies and engineering work.
McKenna said the government wants to take a hard look at the idea.
“We need to do a feasibility study. We need to look at the economics of the project. We need to look at the rationale for the project,” she said. “My focus has always been how do you have infrastructure projects that improve the quality of life for people, but also grow the economy and create jobs.”
In an email, staff in her office said those studies would come later this year after the fund for “nation-building projects” is set up.
“Once we establish the fund this year, our commitment is to examine the fixed link project as one of the fund’s first feasibility studies. We’ll be working with our provincial partner to determine the best path forward for this work.”
They didn’t say who would pay for the study or what the estimated cost could be.
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