Did the B.C. NDP government turn down hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to help pay for its new George Massey tunnel replacement?

Turns out: Yes.

Delta MP and federal cabinet minister Carla Qualtrough has revealed to the Delta Optimist that Ottawa put cash on the table for the new $4.15-billion, eight-lane tunnel under the Fraser River, but was rebuffed by Premier David Eby’s provincial New Democrat administration.

“At some point, just before the last provincial election, there was a legitimate, multi-hundred-million dollar offer that the province didn’t take at the time,” Qualtrough told the paper.

Qualtrough, who is not seeking another term appears to be spilling the beans in her final hours in office on the eve of Sunday’s expected federal election call.

“I’m absolutely shocked by this,” said Delta South MLA Ian Paton, who has long been a critic of the NDP tunnel plan and favours the original BC Liberal bridge proposal.

“I’m flabbergasted by this announcement. Are you kidding me?... what government wouldn’t at least cash the cheque if the federal government offered them a billion dollars or something towards the project?”

Qualtrough told the Glacier Media outlet that the people of Delta need to know the federal Liberal government “made good on its promise. We put a lot of money on the table that would have ensured a second exit out of Ladner.”

That second exit out of Ladner would have been in the form of an overpass across Highway 99, at River Road — something that has never been part of the scope of the tunnel project because the province said it would require additional funding.

And yet when Ottawa offered that money, B.C. appears to have said no.

Premier David Eby has for more than two years been........

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