TORONTO, Ont. – The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) highlighted several aspects of the federal government’s recently released 2016 budget, including a $5 billion investment over the next five years in infrastructure and $62.5 million to support the deployment of infrastructure for alternative transportation fuels.

The CTA said the budget refers to tax support for ‘clean vehicles’, though only electric and natural gas facilities are mentioned, and it did not refer specifically to commercial vehicles, although the CTA said it was engaging in discussions with the federal government on how the funding cap could help support and expedite alternative, green power for commercial vehicles into the marketplace.

The CTA will also look at how it can participate in the government’s $75 million effort to support municipalities attempts to address climate change and a $125 million pledge to enhance the Green Municipal Fund, which aims to help municipal projects to identify and implement emission reduction opportunities and green infrastructure projects.

The CTA said there were no precise funding details in the budget for highway and bridge infrastructure.

The CTA is also hopeful the 2016 budget would provide funding and investment to ensure efficient movement of goods across the US-Canadian border, with monies being allocated to radio frequency identification (RFID) infrastructure.

They underscored that the budget states: “Budget 2016 proposes to provide $3.4 billion over the next five years, on a cash basis, to maintain and upgrade federal infrastructure assets such as national parks, small craft harbours, federal airports and border infrastructure.”

Vehicle technology and manufacturing is also addressed in the budget, with $7.3 million being provided to increase inspection capacity and support development of a regulatory framework for emerging vehicle technologies.

The CTA said the budget announces the elimination of tariffs on about 12 manufacturing inputs, providing relief for those in the consumer goods and transportation sectors.

The CTA also said the budget’s proposal to waive the 25% tariff on ferries of all sizes imported after Oct. 1, 2015 will mean ferry operators will be able to reinvest in fleet renewal plans, enhance ferry services and reduce fares for passenger and commercial users.