Yes, they are on a per capita basis.
Evidence of meeting #52 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was clauses.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #52 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was clauses.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:55 p.m.
Director General, Social Policy Division, Federal-Provincial Relations and Policy Branch, Department of Finance
Yes, they are on a per capita basis.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Thank you.
Shall clause 198 carry on division?
(Clause 198 agreed to on division)
(On clauses 199 and 200)
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Ms. Kennedy, you might as well stay with us for the next two clauses. I know you're not back until division 16.
We'll go to division 14, on the Canada community-building fund.
There are no amendments to clauses 199 and 200. Could we have a general explanation from Mr. Malara generally on those two clauses?
Go ahead, Eric. Could you give us an overview? Then maybe we could vote on these two together. We'll see.
Mr. Malara.
June 1st, 2021 / 5:55 p.m.
Eric Malara Director, Governance and Reporting, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
Thank you.
The federal gas tax fund is a permanent, legislated and indexed funding program that currently provides over $2.2 billion annually to fund municipal and first nations infrastructure.
Clause 199 of Bill C-30 proposes an additional one-time payment of $2.2 billion through the gas tax fund, which is double the amount committed to municipalities across Canada each year.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for that brief explanation.
This is what was known formerly as the gas tax. Is that correct?
5:55 p.m.
Director, Governance and Reporting, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
It is currently the gas tax fund, yes.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
5:55 p.m.
Director, Governance and Reporting, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
The program is currently called the federal gas tax fund. However, it will be renamed the Canada community-building fund, pursuant to clause 200 of Bill C-30.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB
Okay. Thank you.
My second question relates to the fact that previously, when infrastructure money was announced, getting the money out the door to the provinces was very slow. Do we have assurances that this money is going to be delivered more quickly to the municipalities? Is there a process, and can you talk a bit about the delays we've experienced previously in getting infrastructure dollars out? Were they departmental delays or were there delays in agreements with provinces and in funding agreements? Where did the previous delays come in?
6 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I think we're talking about two different things here, but go ahead, Mr. Malara.
6 p.m.
Director, Governance and Reporting, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
Yes, I can talk about the federal gas tax fund, but not necessarily about the other programs.
For the federal gas tax fund, we have agreements with all the signatories, which include the provinces and territories. Once Bill C-30 is passed, the funds will be transferred through the current mechanisms, which call for the immediate distribution of the money.
6 p.m.
Conservative
Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB
Okay, and I think you're right, Mr. Chair. I think we're talking about two different things here, but it's good to hear that the gas tax money, now known as the Canada community-building fund, will be rolling out, as did the gas tax.
Thank you.
6 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Thank you.
Just for the translators' benefit, we will finish this section, with clauses 199 and 200, and if we don't finish until 6:05, we'll give you guys the 30 minutes in any event.
Mr. Kelly is next.
Go ahead, please.
6 p.m.
Director, Governance and Reporting, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
6 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
I'm glad to see that this funding is included in the budget. I'm very pleased that the gas tax fund was made permanent in 2011.
There are strategic carve-outs that are part of this program. Is that correct?
6 p.m.
Director, Governance and Reporting, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
Thank you for your question.
Yes, an amount is allocated to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
6 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Is it just Indigenous Services that are carve-outs, or are there other carve-outs for specific infrastructure-type projects?
6 p.m.
Director, Governance and Reporting, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
The federal gas tax fund doesn't include specific payments other than for services for first nations. Under our agreements, the signatories can use the money in a certain way.
6 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Let me ask this in simpler terms. On the choice of the projects that will be funded, is that process driven by the municipalities, by the province or by the federal government? Who is the driving force behind that?
6 p.m.
Director, Governance and Reporting, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
The municipalities choose which projects to invest in, based on their priorities.
The current program includes 18 project categories in which the signatories and ultimate beneficiaries can invest.
