Evidence of meeting #85 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cmhc.
A video is available from Parliament.
Deputy Minister, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
I can get you that information. I didn't bring with me the breakdowns between each of the subway lines.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
Okay, that's fine.
I'm wondering if you can tell me, though, if the department or the government has instructed you on a target. How many units do we think we should try to get per billion dollars that we're going to spend on infrastructure for transit?
Deputy Minister, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
In this particular programming, no. This came out in 2019, actually, and goes through 2021, and right now we're looking at the same kind of needs assessment and at understanding the affordability and what's going on and having active conversations with the province and the city to try—
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
Is there no discussion of what a minimum target might be?
Deputy Minister, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
In the discussions right now, I think Ontario does have minimum targets across the province. Then we're looking at the stations themselves—the demographics, the needs, the growth. It's very much a data-driven, evidence-based approach and not a hypothetical example.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
Quickly, as part of funding for the western extension of the Eglinton Crosstown, would you consider looking at requiring the city to up-zone around existing stations that are being built now that are surrounded by single-family detached residential units?
Deputy Minister, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
That's a great question. That's actually part of the housing accelerator fund, where we look at zoning requirements and at allowing “four and four”. There's an agreement with Toronto. Looking at opportunities that this particular agreement provides to change the dynamics within these discussions and future discussions, I think, is super-important.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
That's the carrot, and that's great, but are you considering it as part of the contribution of infrastructure dollars for the next extension as well?
Deputy Minister, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
The infrastructure dollars do not fund housing. The infrastructure dollars fund transit.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
I get that. Would you use it as a criterion on top, though?
Deputy Minister, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
It would certainly be taken into consideration in part of the negotiations.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you, Mr. Aitchison.
Before we adjourn, I will just remind you that the deadline we would like to establish for briefs for the artificial intelligence study is November 22. It would be a Wednesday. This is for written briefs on the next study, which will begin this coming Wednesday. We'll have a short time at the end to do some committee business.
Liberal
Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON
Do you know how many witnesses we have confirmed for Wednesday?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
We have six. It's a full slate.
With that, thank you, Ms. Bowers. I'm not sure if we'll see you again. If we don't, we wish you all the best with your new position. Congratulations.
Thank you, Ms. Gillis and Mr. Johnson, for your testimony here today.
Thank you, committee members.
The meeting is adjourned.