Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you committee members. It's a pleasure to see all of you again, and I'm looking forward to continuing to work with you.
Today my officials and I are here to discuss the 2014-15 main estimates for the infrastructure, communities and intergovernmental affairs portfolio, for the federal bridges in Montreal, and for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.
The following Infrastructure Canada representatives are joining me: Louis Lévesque, Deputy Minister; Yazmine Laroche, Associate Deputy Minister; and Su Dazé, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services Branch. I am accompanied by a few other individuals, both from Infrastructure Canada and the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.
Today, I will provide you with an update on the work that has been done by Infrastructure Canada, the team responsible for federal bridges in Montreal and the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec over the last year, and on our plans for the coming months.
As you know, our Conservative government is building on our historic infrastructure investment by providing $70 billion for public infrastructure over the next decade. This includes the $53 billion new building Canada plan, which is the largest and longest federal infrastructure plan in our nation's history. The plan will provide funding for provincial, territorial, and municipal infrastructure over the next decade. It will build on our past successes under the original building Canada plan as it continues to focus on supporting projects that enhance economic growth, job creation, and prosperity.
Since 2006 our government has supported more than 43,000 infrastructure projects in Canada. We have been able to achieve this level of success by always working in partnership with the provinces, territories, and municipalities and always respecting their jurisdiction. It's important to remember that in Canada, provinces, territories, and municipalities own more than 95% of public infrastructure.
The projects we have funded have generated economic growth, have created jobs, and have contributed to a higher quality of life for Canadians. We understand the vital importance of quality infrastructure to the success of our country and the health and well-being of our citizens. Modern, efficient infrastructure helps get our goods out to market, connect people and businesses with the world, and reduce gridlock on our roads and highways. The new building Canada plan will continue to support infrastructure projects that help to meet these goals.
Our $53 billion new building Canada plan will provide funding for public infrastructure through several funds. It's always important to remember that this is a global plan for 10 years. Don't split that period when comparing things.
First is the community improvement fund, which is made up of the renewed $21.8 billion federal gas tax fund and the $10.4 billion GST rebate for municipalities. It will provide more than $32 billion to municipalities for projects in a wide range of categories. In fact, as part of the new building Canada plan, the categories for the gas tax fund have been doubled. As well, the gas tax fund has been indexed at 2% per year, to apply in $100-million increments. This indexing will provide $1.8 billion over 10 years to municipalities across the country.
Second is the $14 billion new building Canada fund, which consists of $4 billion of a national infrastructure component for projects of national significance and a $10 billion provincial-territorial infrastructure component for projects of national, local, and regional significance. Of the provincial-territorial infrastructure component, $1 billion will be dedicated to projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 residents.
Third is the P3 Canada Fund, which has been renewed with a further $1.25 billion over five years to continue to support innovative ways to build infrastructure projects that will be delivered through a public-private partnership arrangement.
Finally, there remains $6 billion in funding that continues to flow across the country, this year and beyond, under our existing infrastructure programs. So the Building Canada program—which began in 2007 and will end on March 31, 2014—will again make it possible to invest $6 billion in the country's infrastructure this year.
Putting every construction season to work is very important for us. For our 2014-15 main estimates, Infrastructure Canada is seeking a total of $3.3 billion for investments in public infrastructure. This funding will support the $2 billion renewed federal gas tax fund and includes close to $850 million to support ongoing projects under the 2007 building Canada fund, such as the Evergreen Line in British Columbia, the LRT here in Ottawa, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, and the Halifax Discovery Centre.
It also includes $550 million for projects in other sunsetting programs. These funds are in addition to the amounts that will be requested under the new building Canada plan, which are not reflected in our 2014-15 main estimates. Given the difference in timing of the preparation of the main estimates and the budget, it is not always possible to include emerging priorities and items announced in the government's budget in the main estimates.
We are putting every construction season to work. This year is no different. We expect to flow funding to about 3,000 projects across the country under our existing program. The renewed gas tax fund will support about 2,500 public infrastructure projects this year alone. We are making sure that every construction season is put to use and that our partners have the support they need from the Government of Canada.
I would now like to turn to a project that is a high priority for the Government of Canada—the new bridge over the St. Lawrence, in Montreal.
I would first like to repeat what we have said from the beginning on this file. The new bridge on the St. Lawrence will be built through a public-private partnership, and it will include a toll and a public transit corridor. From the beginning, we have been saying that, without a toll, there would be no bridge, and we are reiterating that statement today.
Since my last appearance before your committee, we have covered a lot of ground. On March 3, I invited stakeholders to participate in the request for qualifications for the project. This is the first step of the process to select our private sector partner for the new bridge. As I have publicly stated, the Government of Canada is committed to opening the new bridge to replace the Champlain Bridge by 2018, and to completing the rest of the corridor by 2020.
I am pleased to say that the project is on track, and the posting of the request for qualifications on March 17 represents yet another important milestone for the project. In the summer of 2014, a limited number of respondents will advance to the request for proposals phase, where they will be asked to submit technical and financial proposals. While we are doing everything we can to ensure the new bridge is built as quickly as possible, we are providing all the resources necessary for the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated to ensure the safety of the current Champlain Bridge and of the other federally owned bridges in Montreal.
It is important to remind our colleagues that this is the only part of the country where Canada owns interprovincial bridges. We own 100% of the Champlain Bridge, 100% of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge and 50% of the Honoré-Mercier Bridge. All efforts are being made to keep those bridges in good condition.
In addition to fulfilling my duties as Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, I also have the pleasure of serving as Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. Since our government has taken office, we have restructured the agency according to its mission in order to support the economic growth of all regions of Quebec, and we will continue to do so.
Allow me to share a few figures from the Economic Development Agency of Canada's activities since 2006. Just imagine. The agency has funded 4,575 projects, granted $2 billion in contributions, and generated $8 billion in total project investment.
The businesses we have funded during this period report that 38,000 jobs have been created, and another 31,000 have been maintained as a result of this support.
The agency's activities are aligned with the government's priorities of jobs and the economy.
To help further these priorities, the agency focuses more specifically on promoting entrepreneurship, business productivity, export, innovation and technology transfer.
The agency maintains a presence on the ground through its 12 business offices and is the Government of Canada's principal economic representative in Quebec. Its advisors provide direct assistance to SMEs, economic development stakeholders and organizations by offering them guidance and financial support.
Ever mindful of the specific needs of communities, in June 2013, the agency introduced the Canadian Initiative for the Economic Diversification of Communities Reliant on Chrysotile. This $50-million initiative aims to help communities and businesses in the Des Sources and Des Appalaches RCMs make the transition to new economic activities.
To support the community of Lac-Mégantic in the wake of the derailment disaster, the agency also launched, in July 2013, an initiative to help with the town's economic recovery. This $35-million initiative consists of the following three components: up to $20 million in aid for the reconstruction of the town; up to $10 million in direct funding to businesses and non-profit organizations; and up to $5 million in financial assistance through two investment funds to be administered by one or more local organizations.
Based on the agency's track record so far on the ground, you can rest assured of our ongoing commitment to supporting SMEs and furthering the economic growth of every region of Quebec. That continues to be our daily motivation.
I would like to thank you for offering me the opportunity to speak to you about the important work being done on behalf of the whole country by Infrastructure Canada for the federal bridges in Montreal and through the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.
Thank you for your time, Mr. Chair, and all the committee. My officials and I will be happy to answer your questions.