Evidence of meeting #19 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.

A recording is available from Parliament.

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Yaprak Baltacioglu  Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
John Forster  Associate Deputy Minister, Infrastructure Canada

9:20 a.m.

Bloc

Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

The Champlain bridge, the most used bridge in Canada, sparked all kinds of debate. Surely, you are aware of all that, Mr. Minister. During the last election campaign, studies were conducted by engineering firms suggesting that the bridge was dangerous. The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited did not want to release the studies, and your government said that the bridge was safe. But everyone agrees on the fact that the bridge is in need of maintenance.

Are there any maintenance measures or programs? Are there any such plans that you could submit to the committee to give us an idea of the efforts being made to make the Champlain bridge safe? Are there any plans under way?

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

John Baird Conservative Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

First of all, I have to say that bridge safety and security is most certainly a priority.

I can fully appreciate why Quebec is making it a priority, given Pierre Marc Johnson's report on the accident that happened in Quebec five years ago. I am very familiar with the needs of the Champlain bridge over the next two years, indeed the next ten years. A lot more money has been spent on that.

My deputy minister can tell you about a study designed to determine not only the immediate needs, but also whether it is time to consider building a new bridge. I will ask the deputy minister to elaborate on that.

9:25 a.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Transport

Yaprak Baltacioglu

First of all, the budget of 2009 granted $212 million over 10 years for repairs. In the meantime, there is a study being done to get the data needed to see if there's a need for the bridge to be rebuilt. The moment we have the data and the study, we would be happy to share it with you.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

John Baird Conservative Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

As I said in response to another question, if you or your colleagues in the regions would like a briefing on the bridge repairs or the future of the bridge, you and your colleague, Mr. Gaudet, are always welcome to come to the department for a thorough briefing.

9:25 a.m.

Bloc

Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

Thank you. That would be great.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Colin Mayes Conservative Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

Mr. Chair, first off, I'd like to thank the minister for the great investment in British Columbia. As a British Columbian, I think it really helped the Olympics to be the success it was. It wasn't just a sporting event; it was also a display of the great infrastructure we have in British Columbia, in large part because of the partnership your department has had with the Province of British Columbia. Thank you very much for that.

There has been a great investment in the Trans-Canada Highway. As the member of Parliament from Okanagan—Shuswap, I am familiar with a large part of the Trans-Canada Highway in British Columbia because it goes through my riding. One of the concerns I have is that the investment in the Trans-Canada Highway will stop after the stimulus money on the Building Canada fund. Your department has made great investments of $100 million around the Lake Louise area. We've seen more money spent on the Trans-Canada Highway with this government than we have in the last 20 years.

Are there any future plans for further investment for providing four lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway through the parks?

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

John Baird Conservative Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

I see this as a huge priority, not just in British Columbia but also in Alberta. Your colleague, the member from Wild Rose, and I assume his predecessor, were very active in this, particularly for safety reasons; the single-lane highway is a real problem. I personally think we have to try to make progress every opportunity we get. We've made good progress, working with the Government of British Columbia. It's probably our best relationship with any province. They're fantastic to work with, whether it's the premier, whether it's this minister of transportation or her predecessor, Kevin Falcon. B.C. is finally getting its fair share too, and that's important.

On the work in the parks, we're able to put some not insignificant investments into Parks Canada outside of Banff, and that's good not just for the Trans-Canada Highway; it's good not just for safety, it's also important. I think it's so important that Canadians have the chance to see their national parks. Whenever we get more Canadians into a national park, we get more support for land conservation, more support for their upkeep. We've done a huge amount of investment with Parks Canada as part of the stimulus plan. Alan Latourelle, the CEO of Parks Canada, is probably one of the most competent public servants I've ever worked with. He just gets things done, and gets things done quickly. Of all the federal agencies we've looked at for infrastructure, we've made some significant investments there.

But wherever we can, we've certainly made investments in the Trans-Canada. We've done a lot in Kenora, on the Manitoba border, with Building Canada. It's certainly something I'd like to see a commitment to over the long term. Building Canada is a seven-year program, but obviously I don't see us getting out of the infrastructure business after 2014.

9:30 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

I'll have to stop it there. I'm sorry.

Thank you, Minister and our guests, for attending today.

9:30 a.m.

Conservative

John Baird Conservative Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

Thank you very much.

9:30 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Just to advise you, on Tuesday, the 1st, we have Toyota coming to the committee, so be ready.

The meeting is adjourned.