Evidence of meeting #8 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was infrastructure.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Lawrence Cannon Conservative Pontiac, QC
Through these components, Quebec will decide whether or not to encourage them. You're right in that sense.
9:25 a.m.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
We unanimously passed a motion on extending the gas tax on the Liberals' opposition day.
Do you intend to extend the gas tax rebate? I believe that rebate is currently planned for seven years. Do you plan to extend it indefinitely?
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Lawrence Cannon Conservative Pontiac, QC
Mr. Laframboise, I believe the will of all parliamentarians was clear.
It is obviously up to the Minister of Finance to do what he has to do, but I think it's clear. It is a mean government that will take the reins of power and decide in 2014 that the gasoline tax will no longer be a source of revenue for the municipalities.
9:25 a.m.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
Are the announcements that you've made concerning, among other things, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Quartier des spectacles part of the $8.8 billion of Quebec's share? Does that mean that that will have to be included in the next agreement? I know it will be because Quebec has said yes. That would already be part of Quebec's share. That will be subtracted from what you're going—
9:25 a.m.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
In Quebec's case, we are indeed talking about $2 billion over seven years from this fund?
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Lawrence Cannon Conservative Pontiac, QC
The contribution under the Building Canada Infrastructure Fund is nearly $2 billion, that is to say $1.9 billion plus $175 million. There are also amounts that are part of the old—
9:30 a.m.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
So, if it's spread over seven years, the amount is divided.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
9:30 a.m.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
The contribution under Building Canada totals $1.9 billion, which you divide by seven years.
Can everything be spent in the first year, or does that amount have to be divided?
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
9:30 a.m.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
You're preparing for an election, so you can make some announcements.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Lawrence Cannon Conservative Pontiac, QC
The problem is that the deputy minister couldn't rightly do so. That wouldn't be feasible. There's the issue of supply and demand. You know very well, since you've experienced it, that, in calls for tenders, you often discover when you open the bids that the amounts are much higher. We're having trouble responding to that.
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Minister, for being here.
Mr. Minister, when will the office of public-private partnership be up and running?
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Lawrence Cannon Conservative Pontiac, QC
I would suspect that it will be in a couple of weeks. If not, it will probably be in the new year, in the beginning of the new year.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Will they actually be able, within the first week, to start evaluating P3 projects?
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Lawrence Cannon Conservative Pontiac, QC
Yes, hopefully.
Just a second now. It will be in the first quarter of the new year.
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Okay, that's fair.
Mr. Minister, you'll be surprised that I want to ask a question about the Windsor-Detroit border, shocking as that might be.
You've been out for two years peddling the Windsor-Detroit border as a public-private partnership. What study have you done or has your department done on a P3 specific to this most important border crossing? And would you be willing to table that study, if there is one?
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Lawrence Cannon Conservative Pontiac, QC
I'll let the deputy minister respond to that. He's been more active on that file.
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
With all due respect, I'd prefer to have you respond to that. That's very specific.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Lawrence Cannon Conservative Pontiac, QC
No, but in terms of the study, Mr. Masse, it will take a second, because it's a long process.
