Evidence of meeting #28 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.
12:55 p.m.
Member of the Executive Committee, President of the Commission on Fiscality and Local Finances and Mayor of the City of Laval, Union of Quebec Municipalities
The Government of Quebec has in fact spoken through the National Assembly, and it was unanimous. It can't be argued that the government is not part of the National Assembly, or the National Assembly doesn't include the government.
12:55 p.m.
Member of the Executive Committee, President of the Commission on Fiscality and Local Finances and Mayor of the City of Laval, Union of Quebec Municipalities
They have spoken very clearly about this. They have supported what the Union of Quebec Municipalities is asking for.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much for coming here today. It's great to see you here again; you were here in June. I have good news for everybody. The government has listened. The policy is that we're going to be fair and flexible and very reasonable. That's great news. I'm very pleased to hear it.
I do agree with you in relation to your submission with regard to the $100 million that's at risk, because of course that's the information we've received from the Government of Quebec in working with them, so we do agree with that. In that $100 million, the $30 million, of course, is the federal component, correct?
12:55 p.m.
Member of the Executive Committee, President of the Commission on Fiscality and Local Finances and Mayor of the City of Laval, Union of Quebec Municipalities
Yes.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Of that $30 million, the projects--somewhere around 15, possibly--might be at risk, but if those municipalities get 90% of that work done they actually receive 90% of that money, correct...? That is correct, actually.
1 p.m.
Member of the Executive Committee, President of the Commission on Fiscality and Local Finances and Mayor of the City of Laval, Union of Quebec Municipalities
It's not that clear, but it might be correct.
1 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
It is correct. In fact, this is the agreement that the Government of Canada has come up with in this case: that as much as you get done by that deadline of March 31, that's the amount you receive. So if these municipalities get 90% of that done, they get everything but $3 million.
I'm coming to the point--
1 p.m.
Member of the Executive Committee, President of the Commission on Fiscality and Local Finances and Mayor of the City of Laval, Union of Quebec Municipalities
But I understand that your question is always preceded by an “if”.
1 p.m.
Member of the Executive Committee, President of the Commission on Fiscality and Local Finances and Mayor of the City of Laval, Union of Quebec Municipalities
It is “if” they get it done--
1 p.m.
Conservative
1 p.m.
Member of the Executive Committee, President of the Commission on Fiscality and Local Finances and Mayor of the City of Laval, Union of Quebec Municipalities
Why should you put more pressure on municipalities that are trying to do their best? We do not control the climate. We don't know when the asphalt plants are going to close--
1 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I am getting to my point, sir. I only have two minutes, so I just want to make sure. I just want to clarify for you and for the people listening that if 90% of that project is done, then the Government of Canada will fund 90% of that, so there would be $3 million left on the table. My understanding, in fact, is that at this stage it looks like over 70% of those projects will be done, so 70% would be finished and 70% would be funded, and that leaves about to $6 million to $7 million on the table.
I'm getting to my point. I only have two minutes and the chair is going to cut me off very quickly. What I'm trying to say is, first of all, that we signed our agreement with the Government of Quebec for PRECO in March 2009, so everything was taken care of from the federal government side at that time. All the rest of the agreements were signed by July 2009.
You have stated that the municipalities didn't get approval until January of 2010--
1 p.m.
Member of the Executive Committee, President of the Commission on Fiscality and Local Finances and Mayor of the City of Laval, Union of Quebec Municipalities
Yes--
1 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
--but that was between Quebec and the municipalities. Is that correct?
1 p.m.
Conservative
1 p.m.
Member of the Executive Committee, President of the Commission on Fiscality and Local Finances and Mayor of the City of Laval, Union of Quebec Municipalities
On certain programs, yes.
1 p.m.
Conservative
1 p.m.
Member of the Executive Committee, President of the Commission on Fiscality and Local Finances and Mayor of the City of Laval, Union of Quebec Municipalities
If I may answer the gentleman--
1 p.m.
Member of the Executive Committee, President of the Commission on Fiscality and Local Finances and Mayor of the City of Laval, Union of Quebec Municipalities
I am going to speak in French because it's easier.
You are assuming that these projects, which cost $100 million to complete, could be 90% completed. According to the survey of our members, it is actually the case that projects worth $100 million would not be completed. So we can't talk about a partial completion factor. You're saying that it's $30 million at stake. We aren't talking about $3 million, we're talking about $30 million. The survey we did was not about that. The other projects, for which 90% might be paid, were not included in the projects costing $100 million.
