Transport committee  With the Peace Bridge, they were in the process of conducting an environmental assessment on the American side--

Transport committee  --and they have not been successful in completing that environmental assessment, because there's been significant opposition with the communities on that side of the border. Until they got that assessment, they hadn't started the one in Canada. They're going back now and looking at whether they can remediate the challenges the community was raising.

Transport committee  It has, and this was the second attempt, actually. They had started in the early nineties and spent almost nine years doing the environmental assessment, and then at that point one of the disadvantaged groups of the community—sort of low income—opposed this and took them to court and they stopped.

Transport committee  Yes, there is. There isn't a lot of space, so part of the discussions in the past have looked at whether we could accommodate some of the U.S. activity on the Canadian side, but there are other issues related to that.

Transport committee  Actually, the federal government is investing $62 million for realigning and reconfiguring the plaza on the Canadian side to accommodate new customs buildings, CFIA, the food inspection agency, and more booths going through there. That work is nearing completion. The bridge corporation itself is putting in a lot of that money as well, in addition to the federal government, and they're making improvements on the U.S. side as well.

Transport committee  Yes, it's for passenger only.

Transport committee  I'm not aware that the bridge company has any big plans for it. They might have technology improvements and things to expedite the NEXUS traffic, but not any major infrastructure improvements.

Transport committee  The same thing.

Transport committee  Yes.

Transport committee  Actually, on the air-rail link the investments that have been made so far on that corridor are not related to the air-rail link. They're related to the GO transit service on the Georgetown line, and there have been improvements made there. The environmental assessment for the air-rail link has just been completed recently, and there hasn't been work started yet specifically related to the air-rail link.

Transport committee  Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. I will speak to you about the Bridge to Strengthen Trade Act, which would authorize the construction of a new international bridge across the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan. It was referenced on page 159 of the budget action plan of 2012, last spring.

Transport committee  The crossing also has the support of labour unions in both countries, as well as major manufacturers, including companies like Campbell's Soup, Amway, Kellogg's, Myers, and other firms. As well, the project has the support of the City of Windsor, the County of Essex, and the City of Detroit, not to mention the legislatures of Ohio and Indiana.

Transport committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will answer in English. Numerous procedures that have been introduced by the Minister of Public Works and Government Services already exist. We will follow all those measures that are currently in place. We will also follow the measures that are part of the Government of Canada contracting policy, Treasury Board policies, and the measures that we are obligated to comply with under international trade agreements.

Transport committee  In fact, as soon as the bidding process begins, we include in the proposal clauses indicating each qualification that we require from companies. When we review the proposals, we see all this and we look at whether these companies have any legal problems or things like that.

Transport committee  This is our approach, basically.