Finance Committee on Nov. 19th, 2013

[Alex Scholten]

At this point in time credit card fees are a significant concern. The industry as a whole lost $254 million last year. At the same time, the credit card fees the industry incurred were in excess of $825 million. Many of our retailers don't have a lot of time to wait for something to happen. I think many of us were hanging our hats on a potential decision from the competition tribunal, which didn't come.

The recent announcement in the throne speech that there would be an awareness campaign and that it would be beneficial is not going to address the issue in the short term. We are very concerned and we want something done in the short term.

[François Lapointe, NDP, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

So the real issue is the excessive fees you pay for a transaction.

[Alex Scholten]

Absolutely.

[François Lapointe, NDP, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Those won't be fixed by it.

[Alex Scholten]

I can understand the logic of an awareness campaign to make sure the general public know what they are paying or what retailers are paying for a credit card transaction. Given that information, they will potentially change their means of paying. However, we've seen loyalty programs from the credit card companies increase, and at the end of the day we don't see consumers reducing their use of credit cards. They have just too big an influence.

[François Lapointe, NDP, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

The government should still consider a ruling regarding that problem.

[Alex Scholten]

We would like to see that.

[François Lapointe, NDP, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Thank you.

Ms. Bolduc, at the end of your presentation, you mentioned the crux of the problem, in my opinion. I think it was an incredible statement as well. You said that rural communities would never be able to prosper if their network of services continued to be dismantled bit by bit. Postal service, cell phone service and Internet coverage all come to mind; they are like pieces of Swiss cheese, with holes throughout. Then, there's the loss of VIA Rail service. As long as things keep moving in that direction, rural communities will never be allowed to prosper. On the contrary, they will be set back.

I would like to hear your thoughts on that in more detail. I would also like you to comment on what you consider the most damaging consequences of losing the Rural Secretariat. You mentioned a loss of expertise in that regard.

[Claire Bolduc]

The fact is we're seeing a number of local initiatives being undermined. People in the communities are looking to foster development and they are putting innovative solutions in place. Those solutions, however, are being derailed by decisions being made elsewhere, by governments, by Ottawa, in particular. That's the case with postal service, public transit—as regards VIA Rail, for example—employment insurance and so forth.

[François Lapointe, NDP, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Park closures are another consideration.

[Claire Bolduc]

A slew of decisions are completely at odds with measures and initiatives being taken by the communities. That's why we are calling on the government to adopt a federal rural policy, a Canada-wide policy that would make it mandatory to give careful consideration to the unique features that distinguish each rural community. It's important to realize that rural communities in Saskatchewan are different from those in Quebec or the Maritimes, for instance.

As for your question on the initiatives that have been put in place, could you tell me specifically what you would like to know?

[François Lapointe, NDP, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

It had to do with the loss of the Rural Secretariat. We'll discuss it later.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Thank you.

Mr. Lapointe, I'm sorry but your time is up.

[Claire Bolduc]

In terms of the Rural Secretariat, we no longer have access to information, knowledge and expertise that will help us shape the future of our communities.

[François Lapointe, NDP, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Thank you, Ms. Bolduc.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

I'd just remind colleagues to please allow enough time for witnesses to answer their questions.

We will go to Mr. Jean, please.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Well, I'll start on my favourite subject, which is infrastructure. I'm from Fort McMurray and I have a condominium in Quebec for eight years. I would say after visiting the country that I don't think there's anywhere with a bigger infrastructure deficit than in my hometown of 50 years, Fort McMurray.

I'm going to start with 2004-05. The FCM came forward and identified $123 billion in infrastructure deficit across the country. I think it was the first of its kind.

The federal government responded in 2006. The Conservative federal government that was elected then responded with the biggest infrastructure rollout in the history of Canada, and now it's the longest infrastructure rollout in the history of Canada, in essence trying to gear provincial governments to put forward one-third and municipal governments to put forward one-third so that everybody contributes.

Is that fair, Mr. Woodside?

[Brad Woodside]

That is fair.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

You must feel great as an organization to have been a key stakeholder in those consultations, because you got everything you asked for.

[Brad Woodside]

Absolutely. We're very appreciative of that, and I mentioned it in my presentation.

It did give us an opportunity to in fact participate in the process at the various stakeholder meetings that you had. As an association, we felt it was a true partnership, and that's very important to all of us.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Is that how you feel today, on an ongoing basis, because obviously I know you're in ongoing consultations on a continual basis with the federal government. Do they seem to be listening to you now?

[Brad Woodside]

They seem to be receptive. We're happy with the relationship we have not only with the government but with all the parties on the Hill.

Things don't change that much. We're focusing right now on housing, but the infrastructure is a very important part of what we do as well.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

But you must be happy because you've changed it from an infrastructure deficit report to a report card on infrastructure on your main page.

[Brad Woodside]

Oh, I'm happy.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

When you say you're happy are you telling me the FCM is happy?