Transport Committee on June 15th, 2010

[Michael Buda]

To answer on the 1%, I've not actually seen the data myself. I'm simply given a verbal summary by department officials. To Mr. Bevington's point as well--and government officials have made the same point--the 40 projects that in the database were deemed to be at risk are all so deemed based on progress reports that are submitted very early on in a project's lifespan, so they anticipate that number could go up.

Our position is that the three partners in projects need to keep an eye on things. I think you're right that the department is doing a very good job of that. They're sending federal officials out to see these high-risk projects. Our point, though, is that when problems are identified, all three partners just have to sit down and figure it out. But you're right, it's a very small number of projects at this point. That number could rise to the point Mr. Bevington was talking about.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Isn't it fair, Mr. Buda, to say the number could go down as well? You said it could go up.

[Michael Buda]

Absolutely. We have no idea whether it could go up or down. If you're one of those people, it's helpful not to be a statistic, but if you are a statistic, all of a sudden the number becomes extremely important.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

So wouldn't the message to send to those people who are listening out in radio land right now be, “Get that project done by March 31 and there won't be a clawback”?

That's a year away from now--

[Michael Buda]

All of our members are, and have been, working flat out. Indeed, as I said, they started planning these projects even before Parliament was able to introduce their budget. Everyone is working as hard as they can.

We've said very clearly that we think this is a great program. There are cases where, for a variety of reasons, people are going to have trouble. We're asking for common sense and nothing more, Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

To be fair, if you look at the total projects in Building Canada, the 20,000 projects, we're actually talking about 0.0002%. It's a very small number at this stage.

Those are all my questions. If I have any further time--Mr. Watson, please.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Watson, you have 15 seconds.

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Oh, well, thank you. Then let me pose some questions for the record, and perhaps our witnesses could respond in writing to the committee, if that's fine, Mr. Chair.

Since there are three partners in all of this, in fairness, when we're considering the federal government's role, one leg of the stool hasn't been talked about. I'd like you to tell us, or submit to us, what problems and obstacles the provinces have presented to your members with respect to how their programs function in carrying out your ISF projects. Did you proactively ask them to waive any of those obstacles before you got into these projects? Are your organizations asking them for relief similar to what you're asking the federal government for?

I'll leave that for you. I think that would inform us greatly in terms of assessing the federal government's true role in this and putting your ask in some perspective.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I'm going to go back to Mr. Dhaliwal for a very brief question and comment.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Again to Madam Steele, you said that you're trying to help the other municipalities. As you know, my riding covers both Delta and Surrey. Are you aware of any project in Delta that is beyond the control of the corporation of Delta where flexibility is needed, and of how much extension that project would need?

[Barbara Steele]

There is a project in Delta that has been identified through our survey; this was sent back. It's been identified to us by Delta. We feel it can be dealt with through the recommendations we have made, as per Mr. Nyce's comments.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Newton—North Delta, BC]

If the federal government does not adopt the recommendations he has made, would the federal government be failing in its duty to protect local governments and their taxpayers?

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Chair, a point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I understand that Mr. Dhaliwal wants speculation from our witnesses, but they're here to provide evidence, not speculation and guesswork. Clearly--

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Newton—North Delta, BC]

It's not speculation, it's--

[An hon. member]

It's completely out of order.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Chair, if he's asking for a fortune teller to come in here to tell us what's going to happen and what the government is responsible for, maybe we should have a soothsayer in here to deal with it.

They're here to provide information--

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

That's not a point of order.

I think the question has been put.

Perhaps, Ms. Steele, because of the time, I could ask you to send a written response, through the chair, to Mr. Dhaliwal's question.

[Barbara Steele]

Sure.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you.

Mr. Jean, on a point of order.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

If I may, Ms. Steele should understand that this needs to go to the chair, not to Mr. Dhaliwal.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Yes.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

With that, we have another committee...

Yes, Mr. Kennedy.