Government Operations Committee on Dec. 1st, 2011

[Anita Biguzs]

The $1.5 million is funding out of the infrastructure stimulus fund to complete the North Sydney alternate dock upgrade project. This is remaining work. An amount of $9 million had been authorized out of the infrastructure stimulus fund for this project. Funds in the amount of $260,000 had already been allocated in 2009-2010.

There have been some delays in terms of the project itself. They were 90% complete, so this $1.5 million was actually reprofiled from the previous year and effectively allows them to complete the work and get that terminal upgraded as is needed.

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

I know Marine Atlantic is looking to purchase some new ferries and some new boats. Have you heard of any applications coming for those?

[Anita Biguzs]

Is that for the sale of the old vessels?

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Yes.

[Anita Biguzs]

In fact Marine Atlantic went through an auction process. They went through a whole request for proposals process and in fact they did have a successful bidder, so those old vessels were sold through that process.

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

What was the money that came from those sales applied to? Did that just go back to the department?

[André Morency, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management and Crown Corporation Governance, Corporate Services, Department of Transport]

It goes to the consolidated revenue fund.

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Okay, so it's used for other things. I understand.

In answer to an earlier question about the high-speed rail and the potential project between Ontario and Quebec, you said the estimated money from that project is about $18 billion to $21 billion. How many kilometres were they looking at doing?

[Yaprak Baltacioglu]

I can't tell you. Let me get you the answer.

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Could you get me that some time? You don't have any idea how much? Because different geography causes different costs. I understand that. But it's very--

[Yaprak Baltacioglu]

It depends on the terrain. We'll get you the study, and we'll get you the kilometres that will be part of that.

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

It's very expensive, I understand that.

[Yaprak Baltacioglu]

It is expensive.

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Canada is a big country.

I think you mentioned $617 million—

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, John McCallum]

You have five seconds left.

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Thanks very much.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, John McCallum]

Sorry about that.

We will now hear from Ève Péclet.

[Ève Péclet, NDP, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

I will share my floor time with my colleague.

Let us consider the government's strategic review of 2010. We see that the Office of Infrastructure of Canada made some $48.4 million in cuts, almost reaching the strategic review target. However, we see here, in supplementary estimates (B) for 2011-2012, that given all the supplementary votes requested, the budgetary expenditures of the Office of Infrastructure increased by 25%, going from $4.9 billion to $6.1 billion.

I would simply like someone to explain to me which funds have been eliminated. What is the total of the paid contributions if we take into account the cutbacks and the increase of 25%? They say that the budget has decreased, but in reality, it has increased by 25%. There needs to be a balance between what has been reduced and what has ben increased. Why was this amount reduced? Where was the money invested—the requested 25%?

[Yaprak Baltacioglu]

The strategic review target for Infrastructure Canada over three years is $124.5 million.

The department has gotten $5.4 million in the Building Canada fund communities component, $4.9 million for the Building Canada fund major infrastructure administrative efficiencies, $45 million from the green infrastructure fund, $23 million from the municipal rural infrastructure fund, $10.4 million from the border infrastructure fund—

[Ève Péclet, NDP, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Those are cuts?

[Yaprak Baltacioglu]

Yes, but over three years. The first cuts hit this year, but the cuts go for three years. Then there is $37.5 million for economic analysis and research.

Now turning to the increases, because a lot of our programs.... First of all, the economic action plan was extended, so the money has to move in order for us to pay the bills. It's the nature of the infrastructure programs that we only pay when the bills come in. Given that the program has been extended, we have until January 31 to get the final bills, and that's when we pay the bills. That would be the increase.

Is there anything else to clarify?

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

If we add up votes 1b, 5b and 10b, we see that Transport Canada received additional funds of more than $76 million. The funding for agreements with first nations with respect to the development of the Port of Prince Rupert receives the highest amount under the supplementary estimates. Considering what we have learned recently regarding Attawapiskat, we know that we must remain skeptical regarding the use of money in such situations.

First of all, I would like to know the reason for and the content of the agreement with first nations regarding this subject.

[Yaprak Baltacioglu]

There are two entries in the estimates. One is $16.2 million for grants and contributions, and there is $50,000 for the department operating.

This one is that the port at Prince Rupert is doing expansion. In order to do the expansion, they have gone into negotiations with three first nations, and this one is the agreement with the first nations to pay the Government of Canada's commitment. The port of Prince Rupert is a very important port, and the expansion is necessary to accommodate the volumes they're experiencing. This initiative is very much part of the Asia Pacific gateway initiative that the government has.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, John McCallum]

Mr. Trottier, the floor is yours.

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, witnesses, for coming in today and answering our questions. I wanted to ask some questions about the Building Canada fund, please.

Just for my own edification, are the Building Canada funds embedded in vote 55(b) of the Office of Infrastructure Canada? It's the big number of $4.7 billion, with the $990 million of supplemental estimates? Is that where Building Canada funds reside?