Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
If I have any time left, I would like to share it with my colleague.
I represent a riding in Laval, north of Montreal, and I do not have any small craft harbours in my riding. However, there is a project underway which does concern your department: it's the construction of a new highway overpass which will link highway 25 from Montreal to highway 440 in Laval. There has been intense discussion in Montreal and Laval about the project.
In June of last year, your department said that the federal government has some responsibility with regard to the construction of the overpass, since it would be located close to a sturgeon spawning ground in the rivière des Prairies. However, your minister and the Department of Transportation at the time said that they could not become involved because the plans for the overpass were not yet available. However, it was clearly understood that you would monitor the project closely and that there might be public hearings at the federal level on the issue.
In the meantime, the project has advanced. Public consultations were recently held and the plans for the overpass were unveiled. Since the project involves the extension of the highway, it will also include the construction of interchanges to access highway 440 in Laval, which is also located close to a spawning ground for fish. The region's environmentalists are very concerned about the project. As the federal member of Parliament, it is my responsibility to make sure that our government is monitoring the construction and that it is assuming its responsibilities.
Since the file was submitted to your department over a year ago, do you plan on studying the project and to hold public hearings at the federal level? Is there money set aside in your budget, since the project is already well advanced and the promoters are already working on their plans?
I had the impression this might be included in your habitat management budget and that money have been set aside for the study, but I would like you to specifically tell me what is being done.