Transport committee  Actually, I think it is a both/and. I think it's actually even a both/plus. Some of the elements of the trade and transportation corridors initiative.... As I said, all of it builds on the regional strategies, but it's being looked at from a national perspective. It's not that we aren't doing anything Asia-Pacific ever again; it's just that it's been rolled into the bigger national strategy.

Transport committee  This summer Transport Canada had a series of consultations in the north with the users of the system, with the indigenous peoples in the north, in support not only of the northern call for proposals that, as Martin said, is going to be launched later this fall, but also in support of the development of an Arctic transportation strategy and in support of Transport Canada's contribution to the Arctic framework that the government as a whole is developing.

Transport committee  I'll take that one. The goal of the trade and transportation corridors initiative is to view the transportation system from a national perspective. Even if something is going from the far eastern part of the country in Atlantic Canada to Asia, it's a question of ensuring that a change in some of the infrastructure around Montreal, Toronto or Edmonton might help with getting something from one end of the country to the other.

Transport committee  I believe it does, as does the northern projects management office.

Transport committee  We have a port guy.

Transport committee  It's $760 million, and that was for the first round; it's not per year.

Transport committee  I would say that it would be really interesting to get a better sense, from the perspective of the people you'll be talking to, of where they see the priorities that are required around transportation infrastructure, where they see the bottlenecks that need to be fixed and what they consider to be the most important and biggest-bang-for-your-buck projects that could be invested in that would make the biggest difference for Canadian transportation.

Transport committee  The continental gateway you're referencing was part of the previous gateway and corridor initiative, which actually sunset. Was it in 2014?

Transport committee  No, the last projects were done in 2018, but I think the sunset was—

Transport committee  Thank you. It was in 2013. As a result, the national trade corridors fund is building on the regional gateways that were part of the gateway and corridor initiative. Initially, there were the Asia-Pacific gateway and corridor, the continental gateway and the Atlantic gateway. The national trade corridors fund and the trade and transportation corridors initiative are building on the lessons learned from the initial gateways and corridors experience we had for over 10 years.

Transport committee  In fact, as part of the safety and security sector of Transport Canada, there is a group that is dedicated to the transportation of dangerous goods, and there are also groups dedicated to rail safety. I think between those two, they are definitely keeping an eye on what's going on and coming up with potential options.

Transport committee  I'll begin by making a few opening remarks. In the time remaining, we all would be pleased to answer any questions you may have. I should note as well that we have provided four background documents, as per your request, to support your study. Minister Garneau's transportation 2030 vision is a good starting point for our discussion.

Transport committee  Thank you very much, Madam Chair and members, for inviting Transport Canada to appear before you today as you move forward on your study on the establishment of a Canadian transportation and logistics strategy. This is a broad subject, and we hope the background information we have provided helps to show how Transport Canada's work aligns with and can contribute to your study.