Federal government pledges $1B for light rail expansion in Ottawa

The Conservative federal government has pledged $1 billion in funding for stage two ofOttawa's light rail system, according to a letter Orleans MP Royal Galipeau sent the mayor on Wednesday afternoon.

"We have created an excellent partnership for the Confederation Line, and I am pleased this will continue as we work to extend LRT farther east, west and south with Stage 2," Watson is quoted as sayingin an emailedstatement Wednesday.

The announcement comes after the Ontario Liberals pledged to financiallysupport Ottawa's light light rail system earlier this year, and ahead of the federal election in October.

"I look forward to formalizing these funding commitments so we can move forward with construction in 2018," Watson said.

Work on stage one of light rail in Ottawa continues and is scheduled to be completed in 2018.