Transport Committee on March 19th, 2013

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Okay.

Thanks.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Thank you.

With that, we do have to pass a few motions in order to deal with the estimates, and I suggest that we go right to that.

But before the committee does its business, thank you to all of you for coming here today. It's much appreciated.

[Mike Sullivan, NDP, York South—Weston, ON]

Is there no time for any more questions?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

No, there isn't if we want to get this done, Mr. Sullivan.

[Mike Sullivan, NDP, York South—Weston, ON]

Are we not going till 5:45?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

No. Committees run from 3:30 to 5:30 normally, and in the discussion at an earlier meeting it was decided because of travelling.... Now today we probably could have started at 3:30, but most days it's 3:45 or very close to it. That wasn't my suggestion. That was brought to me by a number of members. The meeting still ends at 5:30. I know I have to go at 5:30, Mr. Sullivan.

Ms. Chow.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

I'm wondering, if there are folks who want more time, can we start at 3:35 rather than 3:45?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I would suggest you discuss that with the other members. I'm at your service.

Ms. Morin.

[Isabelle Morin, NDP, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Unfortunately, I was absent when this was discussed, but you said that,

if we have enough people in the room to start before that, we will.

If I have understood correctly, this means that the meeting should begin at 3:30 p.m. and that, if enough members of the committee are present, we will begin at 3:30 p.m. That doesn't mean that the meeting is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. I am relying on the record of the last committee meeting. You said that you would like the meeting to begin at 3:45 p.m. because we had started a few minutes late. So, if there were enough people in the room, we could begin at 3:30 p.m.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Ms. Morin, I know what is in there and I know what I said, and you are right, except for one part. The meeting agenda goes out to start at 3:45. I did say if everyone is here and we're ready to go, I'll start the meeting earlier. It's not a problem. But in my experience so far, that hasn't been the case.

If all the members want to get here in time, I'll gladly start, but the official time to start is 3:45. We have to—

[Isabelle Morin, NDP, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I would like us to vote on that, as I don't think it's up to the chair—

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Ms. Chow, Mr. Coderre, Ms. Morin, and everybody who was there agreed to the change.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Of course.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I would agree that you sort it out among yourselves. We have some business to do.

I'm going to be asking you for a number of different motions here, and just because I know it's going to come up, the first two questions—votes 55 and 60—are under Foreign Affairs and International Trade. It's partly because former Minister Baird was in here, the Ottawa capital commission, and what have you. If you want more details, I can get the clerk to explain, but I knew somebody would ask about it.

So with that—

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Sorry, I didn't realize, because the NCC—

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

The National Capital Commission.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Yes, but the NCC is Mr. Baird, so we need to approve it here and not in Foreign Affairs?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

It came to us like this. The clerk and I discussed it. It is very odd, but we have it in front of us. Basically if our committee doesn't deal with it as presented, I guess it won't get dealt with. I don't believe it's a big issue, but if you'd like more from the clerk—

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Yes, because there was this huge kerfuffle about the Rideau Canal being closed early and all of that stuff. I got a huge number of petitions, etc. It was the NCC and I just sent it over there. I didn't realize it was landing over here. Is it this committee or is it...?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

It's the first two motions to deal with, votes 55 and 60.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE

National Capital Commission

Vote 55—Operating expenditures..........$78,510,834

Vote 60—Capital expenditures..........$37,947,000

(Votes 55 and 60 agreed to)

TRANSPORT

Department

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$514,256,466

Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$222,077,647

Vote 10—Grants and contributions..........$543,950,649

Canada Post Corporation

Vote 15—Special Purposes..........$22,210,000

Canadian Air Transport Security Authority

Vote 20—Operating and capital expenditures..........$598,286,200

Canadian Transportation Agency

Vote 25—Program expenditures..........$24,153,322

Marine Atlantic Inc.

Vote 30—Payments to Marine Atlantic Inc...........$154,430,000

Office of Infrastructure of Canada

Vote 35—Operating expenditures..........$42,160,434

Vote 40—Contributions..........$3,877,559,295

The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited

Vote 45—Payments to the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited..........$13,000,000

The Jacques-Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc.

Vote 50—Payments to the Jacques-Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc...........$203,590,000

Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada

Vote 55—Program expenditures..........$1,293,021

VIA Rail Canada Inc.

Vote 60—Payments to VIA Rail Canada Inc...........$187,783,000

(Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 agreed to)

Shall the chair report the estimates for 2013-14 to the House?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

No, on division.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

It is carried.

Thank you very much. The meeting is adjourned.