Transport Committee on May 7th, 2007

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

However, the basic issue, Mr. Minister, with your permission, is that there are more than 6,000 leases between the Government of Canada and various organizations such as churches, school boards, community groups, and they are all non-profit organizations. Besides, the government has adopted a policy regarding its use of real property. In this specific case, there seems to be a violation of this policy.

I represent a number of organizations in my riding and I suppose that this is the case for all my colleagues in this room. You also represent a number of organizations in your riding that would also like to get a $1 lease.

Now, does the government or Transport Canada intend to disregard all the leases that have been signed and to start a new procedure and renegotiate them at the cost of $1?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

No, not at all. That is not the issue. In this case, it is an issue of being able to recognize that specific real estate is public property. Let me come back to what I said a moment ago. On the one hand, this public property is properly used and on the other hand, Mr. Paquet's document, if I'm not mistaken, contains recommendations to the very same effect.

Now, are we violating the principle? I do not think that we are violating it. It would have to be proved.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

That is not the issue. The government has every right to allow the leasing of real property for $1. However, according to the Auditor General's recommendations that were previously accepted, a policy was adopted to disallow indirect subsidies.

Now, do you recognize that the case at hand is, in fact, a case of indirect subsidization?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

No, I do not admit that.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Minister.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you.

Monsieur Carrier.

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Good afternoon, Mr. Minister. Good afternoon, gentlemen.

I would like to put a brief question regarding the Canadian Transportation Agency. We made a long and careful study of Bill C-11 that will give extra powers to the Transportation Agency, powers that were asked for by many people. The extra powers have to do with noise in marshalling yards and various other nuisances, and the railway tracks that could be handed over to suburban transit authorities. I do not think that the bill has received royal assent yet, but it should come soon.

Therefore, I am expecting that the extra powers given to the Transportation Agency will be accompanied by extra funds so that it can act as promptly as possible once the legislation has been adopted.

Now, how do we explain this slight decrease in the budget of the Transportation Agency? Will there be more work for the same number of persons?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Carrier, I am told that the budget amounts to $26 million. Apart from some internal changes, it is substantially the same as before.

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Nevertheless, considering all the extra responsibilities given to the agency, can we infer that the work was previously done on a part-time basis and that it will be done in the future on a full-time basis?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

No. Do you mean the commissioners?

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

It will be their task to set standards regarding nuisances caused by railways. Currently, there are no standards, and they will be able to make decisions regarding complaints from the public. Previously, the Transportation Agency only played a role in consultations or negotiations, whereas now, it will have to assume serious responsibilities. Moreover, this is what we want. We hope that it will be effective and that we will not have to wait for another year or two before getting a new budget to make the agency functional.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

Basically, I think that once the bill receives royal assent, we will see how it plays out in terms of organization. However, as of now, I can tell you that there are similar files that have, no doubt, been analyzed by people in that organization. I do not think that we can presume that those people are working part-time or less efficiently or not hard enough, because they take their job very seriously.

In due time, we will see whether there is an increase in the work involved, and we will review things accordingly, Mr. Carrier. I think that this is the proper way to manage things.

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Thus, you cannot confirm that the staffing situation has been analyzed and that a plan for personnel—

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

We always have a personnel plan. I thought that your question had more to do with... In case there might be extra work, we always review our permanent and temporary staff according to the standards required by Treasury Board. The organization must table a corporate plan that contains answers to several of your questions. In due course, we will see what this means in terms of new tasks or new assignments.

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

You really should be able to tell me that the planning is already underway and that the procedure has been launched.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

The deputy minister can tell you that the planning has been well done.

[Louis Ranger]

When we table a bill, we must evaluate its financial impact on the institutions involved, and this is what we did in the case at hand. Recently, I met the new president, Mr. Hare, who is, in fact, re-engineering the organization and he thinks that he will be able to handle all the pressure. As the minister said, if, in the future, we notice that there are unexpected requirements, for instance with regard to complaints about noise, and if we need extra personnel, then we will follow normal procedure and we will make a request.

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

You will react quickly.

[Louis Ranger]

Yes.

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

All right, thank you.

Earlier, we talked about CATSA, the organization in charge of airport security. We see that this year, you intend to give $70 million more to this organization. I think that you levy the sums that you hand over to CATSA. Do you automatically turn over the money that you collect? Does the budget increase simply reflect a larger amount of funds that you automatically turn over to the organization?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

Another colleague put the same question a moment ago. Funds have been allocated. Of course, some money is collected. However, there are good years and bad years. Due to the dynamics of new evolving technology, there is, more or less, a balance between money coming in and money going out. This year, an increase of nearly $74 million was added to the budget.

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Was the budget increased because of specific activities or improved monitoring? You mentioned a study that is currently going on, but does it have anything to do with...?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

As my deputy minister says, it contains a little bit of everything. Last summer, the management of this organization was asked to take on new tasks, especially with regard to measures restricting the transportation of gels and liquids in luggage. Now, when you fly by plane, you will note that there are extra charges, which are due to these changes.

[Louis Ranger]

Mr. Minister, if I may add something, many things are involved, but, for instance, we noted that the increasing number of passengers requires more personnel to get the work done. Airport expansion is another issue. Therefore, we need additional capital property and equipment. In this field of high technology, equipment very quickly becomes obsolete. These needs were identified, and they justify the $74 million in added funds.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you.

Mr. Watson.