Evidence of meeting #64 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 budget.
A video is available from Parliament.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, Department of Transport
Certainly, with respect to marine safety, yes, there was a $4.1 million reduction in the main estimates for this coming year. That is largely due to the deficit reduction action plan, and that's carried out in a number of areas.
When we did deficit reduction, we had a principle that we adopted in the department. First of all, we wanted to reduce in those areas where it wouldn't affect our front-line services, one of those front-line services obviously being our inspections.
In the areas that we have reduced, there are a couple of general areas that will apply to all of the business lines we have. We did a general reduction in travel, so in marine safety that accounted for some $400,000 of their contribution to travel reduction. We cut out things like business travel in the organization and we also did a general reduction in travel.
We cut professional and special services. That's essentially consulting contracts, people we hire to do studies, and things like that. That was about a $2 million cost.
Most of the other reductions that we had in marine safety related to the reorganization of the marine safety operation. Before last year, we had a marine security organization and a marine safety organization. We merged those two organizations, so that got rid of a number of layers of senior management and management levels, both at headquarters and within the regions. That accounts for the $4.2 million you quote.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
On the infrastructure one, I notice that $2.27 billion was announced in 2007 for provincial-territorial base funding. Some has been allocated and $1.35 billion has been spent. It seems to me there is about $310 million that has not been accounted for.
Can one of you tell me that all the funds that had been announced in all the various infrastructure programs will be allocated and spent at the end of the day? Would any of it have been clawed back? Putting aside all the transfers to Beaufort and all of that stuff, would every dollar be spent, or would some be reprofiled, i.e. eliminated?
Marie Lemay Associate Deputy Minister, Infrastructure Canada
The caveat that you have put forward gives any of the transfers that were mentioned—
Associate Deputy Minister, Infrastructure Canada
As was mentioned earlier, the idea with the programs is that when a project doesn't happen, normally the province will come back with another project. We'll have discussions to make sure the money is spent. The intention is to spend every dollar that is left.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
I found the page, Mr. McDonald. It's page 101. The dollar amount was $525.1 million cut to $443.5 million. It's in the Transportation Safety Board's detail.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management and Crown Corporation Governance, Department of Transport
That's not our portfolio.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, Department of Transport
That's the Transportation Safety Board. That reports to the President of the Queen's Privy Council. It's not part of the Department of Transport.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, Department of Transport
No.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management and Crown Corporation Governance, Department of Transport
No.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, Department of Transport
I don't know the details of their reduction. They have less money, obviously.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
I have another question on VIA Rail. Putting aside the capital, how much has been cut from VIA Rail year to year, from 2012 to 2013?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management and Crown Corporation Governance, Department of Transport
I'll have that for you in a second.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Page 359 shows the expenditure went from $475 million to $187.7 million. That's a substantial decrease. Of the dramatic decrease, what percentage of it is operating?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management and Crown Corporation Governance, Department of Transport
Two cuts were felt by VIA Rail. One is in their capital program, which is coming to term, so they've finished their capital programs. Although there are substantial cuts in their capital program as a result of Budget 2012, they also had reductions to achieve with respect to the debt reduction action plan. Their commitment to achieve results this year, 2013-14, will be in the order of $15 million to operating costs.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management and Crown Corporation Governance, Department of Transport
Yes, $15.1 million.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to come back to the future infrastructure agreement between Quebec and the federal government.
Could you quickly tell me how the negotiations between the governments are going? Projects are often announced, but it takes a long time for them to be carried out.
What is the actual status of the negotiations between the Government of Canada and the provinces, especially Quebec?
Associate Deputy Minister, Infrastructure Canada
As you know, Mr. Coderre, there are a number of programs, the most concrete of which is the gas tax program. An announcement was made that this program will be permanent. We will slowly begin the discussions with the provinces. I say “slowly”, but we will actually have to move very quickly, as the agreements have to be in effect by March 2014.
As for any potential new programs, we have to wait for the program to be announced to discuss it.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
So before negotiations can be held, the renewal must first be announced. Is that correct?
