Evidence of meeting #29 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 vote.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Thank you.
Do you think they are still maintaining key service levels?
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
Yes. In fact, the service levels are improving.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Okay. I'll take that as a yes plus, then.
From an efficiency standpoint, is it fair, then, to say, based on the estimates we've seen here, that in fact it's the case as well that they're more efficient?
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
I'd say yes plus.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
I appreciate the points you're making, because in fact I think what is important is the expectation that Canadians have of us—to try to define the roles we're going to play in their lives using their taxpayer money; to be more efficient; not compromise safety and not compromise areas of key service where it's our obligation as a government to support Canadians in need and particularly in those areas where there is a need. So I appreciate that as well.
Final question, if I've got....
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Well, then, I'd like to thank you all for being here today. There's not much more I can do with that. But it is important, and I'm glad we could make some reference to the estimates today.
Thank you, Chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Thank you.
With that, because of the time, we do have to pass the main estimates, and I have to go through the list of them.
So I will thank our guests for being here today. We appreciate your comments and sincerity. Thank you.
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. It's always a pleasure.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
We have till May to ask the questions. There are many other things we could ask.
Do we have to do it now? Do we have any time left between now and May? I had questions dating back to the supplementaries, never mind about the main ones. I didn't get a chance to ask some of the detailed things.
Even if we don't get the minister back, can we get the department back, if nothing else so that we can understand a fairly big, complex budget even more, in April maybe, or May? We don't have to finish it until the end of May, right?
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
May 31. So we don't really have to vote on it until then. We'll finish the report on the emerging technologies, hopefully, by then. There might be some time to invite the department back for more discussions, if it's the will of the committee.
Can we just leave it?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Actually, it is the will of the committee to decide whether we want to deal with the mains today or leave them open and be dealt with at a later date, but before May 31.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I will, if I may, ask the committee's indulgence to lump them together so we can pass them, or we can do line by line.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Can I protest? I do want to spend more time.
Okay, never mind. I know I'm going to lose the vote, but that's okay.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Thank you.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE
National Capital Commission
Vote 55—Payments to the National Capital Commission for operating expenditures..........$92,331,000
Vote 60—Payments to the National Capital Commission for capital expenditures..........$32,540,000
(Votes 55 and 60 agreed to)
Shall I report votes 55 and 60, under Foreign Affairs and International Trade, to the House?
