Transport Committee on March 10th, 2015

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

As you know, the money was available since April 1, 2014. Late in December, we received the first list of projects from the Ontario government. We're still working on that and are in discussions. But we waited eight months before we received the list of projects from the province.

The money is reserved for the extension of the subway. The municipality continues discussions with the province and with us in terms of the other projects. I don't have the list of all the other projects. None, for the moment, have been accepted. We are still in discussions with the province.

I can share with you that in the former plan, 100% of the gas tax of the City of Toronto went to transit. That was its choice. We respect the priority. And we continue discussions with the municipality and the province.

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

So it's not a no. That's a good sign.

The other question I have concerns a 2013 budget announcement by Mr. Flaherty, rest his soul. He stated in the budget paper, itself, that as the government spends infrastructure dollars, it would find ways to attract and promote the use of apprentices on those infrastructure projects, so that we're spending federal dollars in a way that creates jobs locally and for youth.

Thus far there's been no action by this government on the initiative Mr. Flaherty announced. Can you explain when it will happen, if it will happen? Are we going to actually live up to Mr. Flaherty's promise?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I will ask the deputy minister for more information.

As you know, we are always in the habit of respecting jurisdictions. When we go to scholarship and education information, we go with the provinces. We have to work with them.

I will ask the deputy minister to give you more details on this part of the 2013 budget.

Madame Laroche, go ahead.

[Yazmine Laroche, Associate Deputy Minister, Infrastructure Canada]

These are part of the discussions that are ongoing right now with the provinces and territories. This is an area of provincial jurisdiction, so we are working with our partners as we're discussing the parameters of the new programs. This forms part of our ongoing discussions with them on the new infrastructure programs.

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

I'm sharing my time. Thank you.

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

Thank you very much.

I also want to talk about a bridge, but it has to do with the Honoré-Mercier Bridge.

In my riding, funds are set aside for work and maintenance. Recently, cyclist groups came to meet with me and said that there is a cycling lane on the federal side of the bridge, but there isn't one on the provincial side.

Could you tell me how you will ensure with the province that the federal money invested in this cycling lane will not have been for nothing and how we will be connected to the other side?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you for your question.

It is important to remember the following, without any partisanship.

Our discussions about renovating the federal side of the Honoré-Mercier Bridge were carried out properly, and we collaborated with the Mohawks in the area. You know this because it is in your riding.

We are partners for the provincial side of the bridge. Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated are currently doing some of the work in collaboration with the province.

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

Since I don't have a lot of time, Mr. Minister, I would like to know what will happen to the cycling lane.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Unfortunately, Ms. Morin, I can't answer for the province.

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

Could you tell me what discussions are currently taking place about it?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

In our current discussions with the province, we are mainly emphasizing that it must renovate its side of the bridge so that cars don't have to stop in the middle of their trip. We are first going to make sure that the side of the bridge belonging to Quebec is renovated. We are maintaining a good partnership. Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated, our engineers and our technical teams are working to renovate that part of the bridge. I didn't discuss the cycling lane because I really want traffic to be able to continue moving.

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

Okay.

There is going to be a lot of work on Montreal Island. I would like to know how much money is planned for the west of the island in terms of infrastructure for car traffic.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

You would have to direct that question to the province. As you know, all provincial and municipal infrastructure in Quebec must go through the Government of Quebec. We transfer money for programs to the province, and it—

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

I am going to move on to another question.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Fine, but let me finish my answer.

I really want people to know how it works.

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

In short, it comes from the province.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

The province and the cities.

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

We've already discussed the building Canada fund, but I would like to add something.

You boast about investing $14 billion over 10 years, but only $142.2 million have been spent, which amounts to 1% of the total amount. I find that it's very easy—

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

It's a 10-year plan, madam.

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

It's very easy to say that you are investing this amount and that it's a 10-year plan. In reality, after two years, so at one-fifth of the way, you have spent less than 1% of the funds.

What are your plans in that regard?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

This represents the projects that we have received from our partners.

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

No projects have been refused?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

We have transferred close to $2 billion to the provinces for the excise tax on gasoline. We aren't the ones submitting the projects, our partners are. When we receive projects from cities and provinces, they are processed, and we make announcements.

It's a 10-year plan. You will see between now and its expiry date that $75 billion will have been invested. It isn't a race. The provinces and territories know how much money is available to them. The 2007 plan ended on March 31, 2014, and we received extension requests for certain projects that hadn't been finished in seven years. It's clear that all the projects will be completed in 10 years.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Thank you very much, Mr. Minister, Ms. Laroche, Mr. Lévesque, and Ms. Boileau. We are out of time, and the committee agreed at the start of the meeting to leave a couple of minutes at the end to deal with the estimates. Thanks again, and I'm sure we'll see you back before the committee at some time in the future.

With that, members, do I have the unanimous consent of the committee to call all the votes on the supplementary estimates (C) together?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.