Budget 2026 impacts on the new Eastern Bridge

The federal government posted a new budget! Since the current phase of the Eastern Bridge is fully funded ($221 million!) and the costs for the new crossing won’t be known until after the Impact Assessment and concept design process is completed, there wasn’t any new funding allocated for this project yet. 

But there was a big announcement - oversight of federally owned bridges and crossings will be consolidated under the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure (currently Gregor Robertson). The budget document confirms that Minister Robertson will assume responsibility for “the New Eastern Bridge.” By shifting the New Eastern Bridge project directly into the portfolio of the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, the federal government has confirmed this project as a priority and moved it to the front of the line for Canada’s largest multi-billion-dollar transit and infrastructure funding pipelines in future budgets.

The public comment period for the Impact Assessment ended in October (consultations with stakeholders, including Indigenous groups, are still ongoing). This pdf from a September 2026 Public Information Session is a quick overview of the Impact Assessment process and the project. The Summary of Issues won’t be available for awhile, but you can see the 493 comments that were publicly posted on the Eastern Bridge Project Impact Assessment page. Scroll through to see comments both in favour of and against the bridge. Looking at comments that were relevant to the impact assessment, it’s clear that many commenters want integrated public transportation options, improved infrastructure for cycling and active transportation, environmental protections for waterways and species at risk, and careful design that maximizes safety, especially where the new route will cross existing roadways. 

The federal government is moving to a “one project, one decision, one year” approach for major infrastructure projects like the new Eastern Bridge. Share this petition to show that you support fast-tracking the new bridge!