Evidence of meeting #17 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
You're right. Basically the program got extended, so we need this money carried forward so we can pay the bills.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Do the estimates show the costs of fulfilling the invoices for projects during the time when those invoices are honoured?
My question deals with the timing of the authority. For example, say you have a $500-million project. If the invoice comes in October and is honoured in November, is it in that time slot that the authorization is granted? Tell me how the accounting works for projects and for fulfilling the invoices.
Associate Deputy Minister, Infrastructure Canada
For the stimulus fund, as you know, the original deadline was March 31. When we gave the extension, one of the conditions was that they would get all their bills in for last year by the end of April. So those were all charged to last year.
There's approximately $980 million for this year, so costs incurred between April 1 and October 31 will be charged against this fiscal year. That will be based on the invoices that are due to us by the end of January.
Conservative
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
I didn't get an answer to the question. I'm just curious.
Projects, as you know, take many years to complete.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
When are they charged to the consolidated revenue account, and therefore when do they appear in the main estimates? Do they appear when the invoice is honoured or when the project is announced?
Associate Deputy Minister, Infrastructure Canada
Generally, it will be when the invoice is received. That will be the year in which the costs are charged.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to our witnesses.
I wanted to follow up on the provincial-territorial base funding. You said there was $280 million left to be approved and the provinces provide the list. Of the $280 million that's left, how much of that is Ontario's share? Do you know?
Associate Deputy Minister, Infrastructure Canada
There were a few projects approved. I don't have the net figure, but about $150 million or so remains in Ontario.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Looking at vote 1(b) and vote 5(b), I note that in vote 1(b) there's a transfer from National Defence, vote 5, of just over $16,000. I think that's $16,000, if I read that properly.
In vote 5(b), there's another one from National Defence, vote 5, a transfer of $150,000. I'm wondering if those transfers are related to some sort of responsibility that's been transferred from the Department of National Defence. If so, what?
Conservative
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
One of them is that the Department of National Defence gave us money to look at a certain type of scanner used in transportation. I don't want to say nuclear, but I forgot the name of it.... It's the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear research and technology initiative.
The other one is about search and rescue. DND has responsibility for search and rescue, and this is for personal flotation device research, because when you're trying to save people, they need....
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Yes. Fair enough.
To the DRIC, the Detroit River international crossing, one of my favourite topics, obviously.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Very good.
I'm just wondering if you can give us an update on the proposed international crossing between Windsor and Detroit, and what activities you may be engaged in or where we're at in that process right now.
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
Thank you very much.
This is a top priority for Canada because it's a major crossing. It's the lifeline of our economy. Most of the goods movement from Quebec and Ontario go through that bridge. Both governments—Ontario as well as the federal government—have done a lot, completing the environmental assessment to actually start building the highway that's going to go to the new bridge.
We were disappointed that the Michigan legislature hasn't been able to come up with a decision around this, but our various ministers from cabinet met with Governor Snyder. He was in town, I think, last month. Governor Snyder definitely is very determined that this is a top priority for him as well. We are right now working with our American partners. Basically, we will do whatever is required to make sure that we make progress on this bridge.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
With respect to the infrastructure stimulus fund, how many projects required the extended deadline until October, and of those projects, how many of those met the deadline?
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
We gave one-third of the projects--so 1,600 projects--the extension. We believe all but potentially 80-some, 87 or 88, may miss the deadline. We believe half of those 87 or 88 are expected to finish by December, and 51 would have used up all of their federal dollars.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Okay, so if they go to December, they can only invoice up to October 1, then?
