Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to speak to this, just to get the government's point of view out there.
He is correct. As the member said, Ridley Terminals once lost a pile of money, millions of government dollars. And it is an asset now because the grain market is actually worth some value.
Private ownership will allow the terminal to maximize its contribution to economic growth, jobs, and new investment. Open access to the terminal will also allow a lot more variety in operators using the terminal and in products moving through the terminal.
Moving away from government ownership at Ridley Terminals would align it with other major marine terminals in Canada that are owned and operated by private companies. The Canada Development Investment Corporation will serve as the government's agency to ensure that any sale process is conducted using best commercial practices. The government will only proceed with the sale if it maximizes the value for taxpayers. Of course, continued open access to the terminal will also be a central feature of any sale.
So you can see that this is the time and place to actually move this asset. It has a lot of value. Rather than wait for a time when it is an asset needing millions of government dollars, now is the proper time to sell it.