Transport Committee on April 23rd, 2015

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Halton, ON]

We already have the ship-source oil pollution fund, Mr. McGuinty, and we're able to actually put those two together. We believe that's going to be adequate in terms of resourcing.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Are there resources for the Canadian Transportation Agency as they take on a new conflict resolution role?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Halton, ON]

For the Canadian Transportation Agency, I'll turn to either Shawn or Laureen on the funding of that.

[Shawn Tupper]

I don't have it.

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Halton, ON]

Go ahead, Laureen.

[Laureen Kinney]

I think that's a good question, but I think one of the issues is the provision is in legislative authority to make a regulation. The scope and the extent of the regulation obviously would affect the scale of the work required. The frequency, as we would expect, is quite low. We don't expect that this type of issue would come in front of the CTA very often. We did have a conversation with them, obviously, before this was drafted, but I think it is early to say what the implication will be over time. But we do, on a regular basis, assess economic issues.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Okay, so there may be costs, correct? There may be costs involved with the CTA.

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Halton, ON]

It depends, Mr. McGuinty, because maybe the CTA isn't dealing with grain issues with respect to the movement of grain by rail at the time and it balances this out in terms of the work before it.

I would also say that Mr. Emerson is currently chairing a review of the Canadian Transportation Act for us and taking a look at the CTA itself as well. Through that, I assume we'll get some good advice on the CTA with respect to its resource level, and decisions could be made on that once that report is received.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Well, I ask, Minister—I think you know where I'm going—because the last time you and I spoke here at this committee I asked you about your department being cut by 11%, or $202 million, at a time when you're short of key staff and inspectors.

I have the budget speech here in front of me. I listened to it. In fact, I read every one of the 3,553 words. The word “transport” appears only once and only in regard to marine safety.

We're interested in finding out, and we'll watch very closely to see, Minister, what the implications are of additional responsibilities for regulatory boards and bodies, for example, and your own staff, without any additional resourcing. In fact, they're going to have to accomplish all of these additional responsibilities with a $202-million reduction—over 10%—from your department. You would agree that those are the numbers, correct?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Halton, ON]

What I would agree with is that the department has a bulk number, and they know they can reallocate funds internally depending upon what they're focusing on at the time, and that we worked very closely with the department in developing this legislation, their plan going forward, and their budget for the next five years. We have a good understanding of what needs to be done, and I'm very satisfied that they're resourced well enough for it.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Last time you were here, we were in disagreement about the fact that your department was cut by 11% or $202 million. Are we now in agreement that your department was cut by 11%, by $202 million?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Halton, ON]

I didn't say that, Mr. McGuinty. What I said—

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Was it cut?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Halton, ON]

The amount of money requested by Transport Canada is the amount that they say they need to carry out all of the projects and the priorities they list in the RPP.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Okay. So was your—

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Halton, ON]

That was the number they indicated. Like last year, though, as you know, through supplementary estimates, if something comes up along the way, there is always the ability to come back to Parliament and ask for a further appropriation. That's what we've done in the past with things that we simply don't know about.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

I simply want to confirm this for Canadians who are watching. I have in front of me the Library of Parliament document prepared for this committee, in which they say that in the 2015-16 estimates Transport Canada was cut by $202.4 million, or 11%. Is that right or is that wrong? It's important in the context of the implementation of this bill, wouldn't you agree?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Halton, ON]

No, Mr. McGuinty. For the context of the implementation of the bill, that was taken into consideration in the department making the request, both in the main estimates and in their ongoing budgets for what they need to do. I'm satisfied that they know what they're asking for.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Let me ask you again, Minister, just so we're perfectly clear: was there an 11% cut at Transport Canada in these estimates?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Halton, ON]

Mr. McGuinty, Transport Canada requests the amount of resources they need in order to be able to fulfill their projects and their priorities. They've indicated that's the amount they need, and that's the amount we appropriated.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

So there was a cut?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Halton, ON]

Transport Canada has indicated how much money—

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Was there a cut?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Halton, ON]

—they need in order to carry out all of their services, Mr. McGuinty.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Between one fiscal year and the other in terms of estimates, was there a cut?