Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My thanks to the witnesses for being part of the committee's activities. It is very important.
I am a member of Parliament from a remote part of eastern Canada, the Gaspé, and I can assure you that the issue of infrastructures, be they ports, airports or railways, is critical for my fellow constituents and myself. I echo what our colleague Mr. Deltell said earlier about what needs to be done to ensure that our communities develop, whether they may be remote or in the north. We need quality infrastructures to provide transportation for passengers, goods and materials, and so that those with serious health problems can get to quality medical services. This infrastructure is essential.
Mr. Keenan, when you made your opening remarks, saying that the Office of the Auditor General was focusing on issues of airport infrastructure rather than on issues of aviation safety, I sensed—perhaps wrongly—a little detachment, a little lack of responsibility, in that statement. Perhaps I am mistaken—you can comment—but, in my opinion, there can be no aviation safety if there is no quality infrastructure. If the runways are not adequate, if there is no system of navigational aids, no lighting, no computer systems that are able to ensure the safety of the aircraft, there is a problem.
That leads me to ask you this question. Given all the programs that Transport Canada has access to, given that you mentioned that you were a participating partner—for me, a partner is a key player in working with other departments, in supporting communities in developing plans and chasing down available funding—I was a little surprised to see the following, in paragraph 6.44 of the Auditor General’s report: “Transport Canada’s 2011 study, Northern Transportation Systems Assessment, noted an anticipated need of approximately $312 million to support priority infrastructure projects at 10 northern airports.” The report also indicates that: “…the Department did not follow up or use the report…in developing a plan.”
First of all, is that correct? Second, if you say you are a partner, how is it that, after seven years, the Auditor General’s report can still contain such a statement?