Transport committee  Toronto is the largest chunk of that. Somewhere in the neighbourhood of $6.2 billion or $6.3 billion would probably be in the Quebec City-Montreal-Toronto corridor. There is expansion going on all the time. Quebec City just expanded and built a new air terminal building. Montreal has ongoing expansion plans.

Transport committee  The best projections we have in 2009, right now, show us getting passenger travel back in Canada to where it was before the recession hit--and it has hit hard--somewhere in the neighbourhood of 2011. And there is continued growth. The airports are in a situation where the way they're operated and managed today is drastically different from what it was before.

Transport committee  Not having done the comparison between investments in high-speed rail versus the existing expansion of current airports, it's difficult to say one way or the other.

Transport committee  As are we. We share your search for the knowledge.

Transport committee  When you look at aviation's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, you will find that it is largely with the carriers, with the aircraft, and that takes place either on the ground but predominantly up in the air. There's a very small percentage of it that actually takes place on the ground at an airport facility itself.

Transport committee  We are only just beginning to do so. We have yet to do a comprehensive study.

Transport committee  I wouldn't go so far as to say that we support the initiative now being discussed because several questions have either not been raised or remain unanswered. If taxpayer dollars are invested in high-speed rail, that might be an opportunity to eliminate some of our fees. Our industry is alone in paying fees to the federal government.

Transport committee  This is our first such appearance.

Transport committee  Our members are the airports, not the airlines. We are the voice of airports in Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto, to name a few.

Transport committee  Yes.

Transport committee  Yes, we do.

Transport committee  Yes, that would be our expectation.

Transport committee  Correct.

Transport committee  As an industry association, we've given it a little bit of thought in terms of interconnectivity with other modes of transportation. Mr. Volpe, you've touched on one possibility that might exist at one of our member's facilities. That's a possibility. The use of existing infrastructure at an airport is something that is consistently looked at by an airport authority, whether it's in the GTA or Edmonton or Winnipeg or anywhere else.

Transport committee  Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. Thank you to the committee for your indulgence. I do have a family commitment that I could not get out of. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. It is a great pleasure to be here today. I am speaking to you today on behalf of Canada's airports. The Canadian Airports Council has 45 members that handle 75% of passenger traffic in Canada and virtually all of the air cargo arriving in Canada.