Transport Committee on March 8th, 2011

[Rob Merrifield, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

I went out and talked to the users of Marine Atlantic. They identified two fundamental problems: lack of on-time service because of older vessels that are at the end of their lifetimes, and as well, no extra capacity to be able to catch up when one of these vessels went down.

We've addressed both of those, with over 50% more capacity this summer for the first time. Last summer they did the best they could, and actually truck traffic was up 7%, and it was a record last year as far as moving vessels or moving vehicles. But this year they'll have the two new vessels and a tremendous amount more capacity.

[Bradley Trost, Conservative, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

Could you explain that for me when you were saying before that it was only 10% on time? What is it now, and what does that mean to someone who...?

Mr. Minister, I'm from Saskatchewan, so take this one slow.

[Rob Merrifield, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

That means when you say you're going to be there...there were only 10% that showed up. It got a little bit better as we've improved service. We brought on the Atlantic Vision and it went up to 42%. This last summer it was closer to 60% plus. This summer coming up will be the first time we've actually had two new vessels, plus the Atlantic Vision, so we'll actually have the extra capacity. And not only the extra capacity, but these are state-of-the-art vessels. They're beautiful vessels. When I talked to the staff of these vessels here a couple of weeks ago, when we brought in the Blue Puttees, they said they're walking two inches taller they're so excited about and so proud of this new vessel. It is really something to go see in action.

I encourage all Canadians to take a trip on Marine Atlantic this summer. It'll be a trip where instead of “Oh, it's another hour to get off”, they'll say “Oh darn, I have to get off in an hour”, and that'll be the difference in the experience of crossing the gulf.

[Bradley Trost, Conservative, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

It's a beautiful part of the country, and I hope to take you up on that invitation sometime.

On the Mirabel Airport reserve land, my understanding is that the sales program is going ahead. My understanding is also that it's been accelerated. Again, not from my constituency, but I remember when we dealt with this in a supply day when we were in opposition and nothing had been done for a long time.

Could Minister Strahl elaborate on where that's going and how that's proceeding?

[Chuck Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Certainly.

It is true that that was our party's position while we were in opposition. Now, I think that it is good news. Former Minister Baird had promised...

I'm going to have to switch to English, I'm sorry.

Regular updates would be provided to members from the area so we could assure the farmers and members of Parliament that acreage would continue to be transferred.

My understanding is that to date some 39 out of the 97 proposals that were submitted by September 2011 have been approved. Some of the lands continue to need--before you can dispose of lands, sometimes it needs to go through an environmental assessment and so on, but we've added additional staff and additional resources to make sure it goes through as quickly as possible.

I think the farmers in the area are very happy, and I think we've been able to keep--if it's otherwise, I would like to hear about it, but I think the regular updates as promised have been given to members of Parliament.

[Bradley Trost, Conservative, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

Mr. Chair, I've kept track of my time and I have seven seconds left. It's all yours.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you. Before I thank our officials and invite other government officials, I have one question.

I've certainly seen the benefits of the gateways we've been developing around Canada. We do have a gateway in northern Manitoba, the Port of Churchill, which over the last few years has seen growth. It's been a challenge, but do you as a minister have an opinion or something that you might want to suggest or offer to the people of northern Manitoba as far as an opportunity as a gateway?

[Chuck Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

I do think the investments we've made have borne fruit. The investment we made in partnership with the provincial government and the private railroad that heads up there has considerably improved the on-time performance of that railway. I think it's doubled the speed on that chunk of rail line, so that money was well invested. It's a multi-year program to replace ties and to do some work there. That work will never end, because that's a tough piece of territory, with the muskeg and so on.

As well, when I was up there with the Prime Minister we announced funding last year from Transport Canada to resurface the runway. That initiative was not an ISF project but a long-term Transport Canada investment in resurfacing the runway, and, of course, again, in that harsh climate it's also necessary. There have been investments in the port as well.

I think Churchill is a long way out there, but what we've been able to do on rail, the airlines, and the port services--all of them have had investments and all of it has helped.

Also, even in the way we've beefed up the board of directors and so on, on the port up there...I think they're an outward-looking group that's looking to get business to come in there. Their sales pitch is exactly as you described. This is another way to get into Canada that doesn't have some of the congestion problems we might encounter in other ways. You come right into the centre of Canada. If you're doing business in a big part of Canada, that's not a bad alternative to look at.

I think those investments will bear fruit, and already should have in the short term, but in the long term they will as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you. I know you provided some services in icebreaking last year that allowed them to extend their season three more weeks, which obviously gives them a bigger opportunity.

[Chuck Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

That's right.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you very much, Ministers, for being here.

[Chuck Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Thank you.

[Rob Merrifield, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

We will take a five-minute recess and invite the department officials to join us at the table.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you, and welcome back.

Ms. Baltacioglu, I'll have you introduce our guests at the table. Then we'll move to Mr. McCallum with further questions, if that's okay.

[Yaprak Baltacioglu, Deputy Minister, Department of Transport]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

It's a pleasure to appear in front of the committee on the supplementary estimates of both of our departments and our portfolio.

Monsieur André Morency is the corporate assistant deputy minister. He's also doing the CFO function for the Department of Transport. Mr. David Miller is our corporate ADM, as well as our CFO. You have already been introduced to my colleague, John Forster. Kristine Burr is our assistant deputy minister of policy.

It's my pleasure to introduce you to Laureen Kinney, our newly minted associate assistant deputy minister of safety and security. She has taken on some new responsibilities in our department.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you.

We've already had the opening comments, so I'll go to Mr. McCallum.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I wonder if the committee would agree to end at about 5:15 so we have time to do the motions.

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

At 5:15 the bells will ring--so 5 o'clock.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

We can sit through the bells.

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

I guess we had to start a little later, but I have questions for this witness. If Mr. McCallum wants to re-attend afterwards, I'm more than happy to come back after committee is done and all the questions have been answered. But I do have questions for these witnesses.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

I'm not suggesting we have no questions for the witnesses.

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

If we deal with motions, it's 4:40 now, and I just heard your colleague Mr. Dhaliwal say you want to end by 5. So you'll get the first seven minutes, the Bloc will get the next seven minutes--

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

The vote is at 5:45.

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

I'm going by what Mr. Dhaliwal said. But by the time it comes to the Conservatives, we won't have an opportunity to ask questions. So I'm not agreeable to that at all.