Transport committee  We do. What we do in the City of Burnaby is that immediately after bringing an asset into operation, we begin reserving for replacement of that asset. Ours is one of the most progressive ways to continue a sustainable approach to assets and it's the model that other cities are attempting to emulate to ensure that we are reserving against future potential deficits.

Transport committee  No, I don't. As I said earlier, looking at that as one of the alternative procurement models is a fair request from the federal or provincial government, and it's one that should be examined during the process. It's one that should receive a fair consideration, but it is not the only alternative that should be presented in order to gain funding from the federal government.

Transport committee  There has to be a sensible review of when it is appropriate or not appropriate to have a P3 arrangement. In the case of, for instance, the waste-to-energy facility that exists now in the city of Burnaby and the new facility that's being planned by Metro Vancouver, it's an area of special technology and special expertise, where a partnership with the private sector, with the public sector providing the capital, has worked extremely well and is the model that we're looking to in the future.

Transport committee  I am very appreciative and I think all of the mayors in the region are appreciative of the gas tax fund. We find it to be a very useful adjunct to the other programs that are available to us. One of the problems with the gas tax fund originally was that there was considerable political interference in regard to the dispersion of those funds from both the provincial and federal governments.

Transport committee  It's a project that is around $700 million to $800 million.

Transport committee  It is at the stage of requesting funds from the federal government. We have been attempting to get ourselves into the building Canada fund process. We have been deflected. There are apparently two systems that are running. One is a straight P3 system, and one is the building Canada fund system, but both are required to go through the screening for private-public partnerships.

Transport committee  TransLink is a very flawed system. The system was taken away from local governments as a result of local mayors being originally opposed to the Canada Line being prioritized over the line to Coquitlam. Then-minister Kevin Falcon removed the mayors from control of TransLink and subsequently set up the mayors' council.

Transport committee  It will be the 2020 requirements in regard to the waste water treatment facility at Lions Gate, and as a result it is the first priority for the region for infrastructure funding. We have all agreed that even though this facility is on the north shore, it's of extreme importance for us to meet the guidelines that have been presented by the federal government for waste water going into the Burrard Inlet.

Transport committee  I'm happy to comment on that because the announcement was made in my city. Unfortunately I wasn't invited. It may be because I'm a friend of Jinny Sims. I was surprised that the announcement was made locally and that they didn't invite the local mayor to attend, and we, my entire staff, were surprised by the nature of the announcement.

Transport committee  We haven't had much opportunity to participate in infrastructure funds in the city of Burnaby. It's been disappointing over the years that as a result of our applications we've had relatively little by way of success. We have signed agreements on some infrastructure projects that helped promote our sewer separation projects in a part of our city, so we have been through those systems, but we certainly have not been the recipients of a major amount of infrastructure money in the city of Burnaby, certainly nothing compared to Surrey.

Transport committee  I'm not aware of any.

Transport committee  I will investigate and provide any information we have in that regard.

Transport committee  Thank you for allowing me to contribute my comments on this important issue. As you have been told repeatedly, the infrastructure deficit in Canada has reached serious proportions, leaving billions of dollars in future expenditures as a burden on the next generation. Anything we can do to lighten that load is welcomed by municipalities across Canada.

International Trade committee  I don't know how multinational Telus is. I think Telus is more focused in Canada.

International Trade committee  I'm aware, fully.