Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I appreciate our witnesses being here today. Thank you for the presentation earlier.
In referencing that presentation, you mentioned that since 2006, the Government of Canada has made unprecedented commitments towards public transit. Since that time, federal infrastructure programs have committed close to $5 billion to regional and local transit priorities across the country.
Now, in an earlier briefing note that you did as a follow-up to one of our previous meetings, you mentioned that the federal investments are limited to the capital costs of public transit systems. Under the current suite of federal and infrastructure programs, operational expenditures, such as staff salaries, fuel, and maintenance, are ineligible for reimbursement across all investment categories, not just public transit. Most of these are then picked up by the municipalities through their tax base or through fares.
Can you explain the rationale for this position? Is it constitutional in nature, or is it institutional to Transport Canada...or otherwise?