Evidence of meeting #24 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 projects.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Harry Nyce  President, Union of British Columbia Municipalities
Hans Cunningham  President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities; and Director for the Regional District Central Kootenay, British Columbia
Brock Carlton  Chief Executive Officer, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Gary MacIsaac  Executive Director, Union of British Columbia Municipalities
Barbara Steele  First Vice-President, Union of British Columbia Municipalities
Michael Buda  Director of Policy, Federation of Canadian Municipalities

10:50 a.m.

Director of Policy, Federation of Canadian Municipalities

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.

10:50 a.m.

Conservative

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.

10:50 a.m.

Director of Policy, Federation of Canadian Municipalities

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.

10:50 a.m.

Conservative

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--

10:50 a.m.

Director of Policy, Federation of Canadian Municipalities

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.

10:50 a.m.

Conservative

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.

10:50 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Mr. Watson, you have 15 seconds.

10:50 a.m.

Conservative

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.

10:50 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

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

10:50 a.m.

Liberal

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?

10:50 a.m.

First Vice-President, Union of British Columbia Municipalities

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.

10:55 a.m.

Liberal

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?

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

Mr. Chair, a point of order.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Mr. Jean.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

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--

10:55 a.m.

Liberal

Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC

It's not speculation, it's--

10:55 a.m.

An hon. member

It's completely out of order.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

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--

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

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.

10:55 a.m.

First Vice-President, Union of British Columbia Municipalities

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Thank you.

Mr. Jean, on a point of order.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

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.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Yes.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

Thank you.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

With that, we have another committee...

Yes, Mr. Kennedy.