Transport Committee on April 30th, 2018

[Yazmine Laroche]

There's a lot of demand for that kind of funding, and one of the programs we'll be launching, we hope relatively shortly, is the disaster mitigation and adaptation fund that is exactly designed to get at that question. How do you help communities cope with some of the major issues around flooding, around natural disasters, and how do you help to build more resilient communities? That is the intention of that project and that program, and there has been an awful lot of interest on the part of communities and provinces and territories.

[Glenn Campbell]

Can I draw your attention to one more key initiative that was announced that's drawing a lot of attention, and that is the Toronto port lands initiative. That is a climate change initiative to move a river and allow for more community development; you're dealing with climate change, you're dealing with remediation. That was an announced project among Canada, Ontario, and the municipality. I know other provinces are looking at the lead in Ontario of what they can do through that green envelope.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much, Mr. Hardie.

Madame Sansoucy, do you have any other questions?

[Brigitte Sansoucy, NDP, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Yes, of course, I still have questions.

In Saint-Hyacinthe, we are very proud to have been at the forefront of biomethane production. Biodigesters now process all of the organic waste generated by the city's agrifood companies.

What support does the green infrastructure program provide to encourage the spread of renewable energy in Canada?

[Yazmine Laroche]

That's one of the goals. Not only are we trying to support resilience, but we are also trying to move towards greener infrastructure.

I think my colleague Mr. Fortin can speak to that in greater detail.

[Marc Fortin]

Yes, of course.

You gave some good examples. We worked with the province of Quebec, among others, on three or four biomethanization projects.

There's a plant in Laval and another on Montreal's south shore, I believe. That's the type of project green funding helps support.

Forgive me, but I have to come back to the process. The provinces and territories, in co-operation with municipalities, decide to prioritize these projects when they submit an application to Infrastructure Canada. The green funding criteria we put in place certainly support these kinds of projects if the provinces and territories have made them a priority.

[Brigitte Sansoucy, NDP, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

I know full well that the provinces set their own priorities as regards these projects, but earlier you talked about support for asset management planning. You could also show leadership by encouraging municipalities to think differently about renewable energy. We need to help municipalities think differently. Having worked at the municipal level, I can tell you that change doesn't come easy.

[Marc Fortin]

Absolutely. All of these projects are eligible.

[Brigitte Sansoucy, NDP, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Very well.

The minister told the committee earlier that, for communities with a population of less than 5,000 people, the federal government would contribute 60% of the funding and the province would kick in a third of the funding. I represent 22 municipalities with populations of less than 5,000 people. When I talk to communities about the measure, they have no idea what I'm talking about.

What are you going to do to make sure municipalities are aware of the new measures?

[Yazmine Laroche]

That's part of our bilateral agreement discussions with the provinces and territories. Usually, once the agreements have been signed, we post all of the details on our website. I encourage everyone to check our website.

[Brigitte Sansoucy, NDP, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

I don't think you are….

I'm already out of time?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

We could have given you the whole show today, and you would have had your questions answered. We have to take a few minutes to do committee business.

I want to thank our representatives and department heads. Thank you very much for supplying the committee with some very valuable information.

I will suspend for a moment before we go in camera. Thank you.

[Proceedings continue in camera]