Transport Committee on May 30th, 2018

Evidence of meeting #106 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was know.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Main Estimates 2018-19: Vote 1 under Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, Vote 1 under Canadian Transportation Agency, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 under Department of Transport, Vote 1 under Marine Atlantic Inc., Votes 1, 5 and 10 under Office of Infrastructure of Canada, Vote 1 under The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited, Vote 1 under The Jacques-Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc., Vote 1 under VIA Rail Canada Inc. and Vote 1 under Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Michael Keenan Deputy Minister, Department of Transport

Jacques Fauteux Director, Government and Community Relations, VIA Rail Canada Inc.

Scott Streiner Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Transportation Agency

4:40 p.m.

Scott Streiner Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Transportation Agency

Madam Chair, I thank the member for her question. In order to ensure that we give accurate information, we will get back to the committee with specific figures on the cost of the consultations.

The consultation process is a three-month process that involves both online and public meetings, so we'll give you a comprehensive figure.

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK

Thank you very much.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Mr. Badawey.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Madam Chair, I'd like to continue on where I left off with the minister and his staff earlier.

As you well know, we're in NAFTA negotiations right now. With that said, having been down there myself just a few weeks ago, there's no question that our partners on the U.S. side are recognizing the advantages that we have with integrated trade corridors, and with that, recognizing the need to have more intense and comprehensive dialogue, especially when it comes to making investments. While we make investments in our corridors and they're making investments in their corridors, it is important, especially with respect to integrating our logistics and distribution systems. I have two questions.

Furthering on a binational effort versus just a national effort, is that dialogue happening at your level? Regarding investments, whether they be in road, air, rail, or water, is there discussion taking place binationally, and even beyond with those in other countries?

The second question is, how do we further that? How do we ensure that those discussions are for.... Where I'm from in Niagara, we're within a one day's drive of over 44% of North America's annual income. It's one day's drive to Montreal, Ottawa, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. A lot of our highways, our waterways, our rail, and our air are interconnected.

Again, going back to my questions, is that dialogue happening? How do we ensure that it's enhanced well into the future so those trade corridors are more robust?

4:45 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Transport

Michael Keenan

It's a great question and strikes to the heart of multiple priorities at Transport Canada departments.

The short answer is yes, the dialogue is happening. It's certainly happening at the ministerial, prime ministerial, and I would say elected representative level, and it's happening at the officials' level.

I spend a fair bit of time talking to my colleagues at the Department of Transportation, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Coast Guard, etc., and at multiple levels, departmental officials at Transport Canada are spending a lot of time not just in dialogues with their U.S. counterparts, but in joint planning meetings on a whole range of things from aviation security to motor vehicle safety standards.

One recent example would be in the last budget. The government has recently enacted the pre-clearance bill—I can't remember the exact title—and, as a matter of coordination, has funded pre-clearance facilities at Billy Bishop and Quebec's Jean Lesage airports. To do that requires enormous coordination with customs, border control, and about 18 U.S. federal agencies.

I think in terms of what we can do is continue the Canadian playbook in this manner, which is extensive ministerial and elected representative engagement that's raised, quite frankly, the awareness in the United States of these trade corridors and the value of that coordination.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Madam Chair, if I may, as we're doing that, is there anything more that we can do to work—

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Your time is up.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Thank you, Madam Chair.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

We're getting tight, and my responsibility is to do what I'm supposed to do here and get the committee where it's supposed to be.

I have to go on to the votes.

Pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), the committee will now dispose of the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, minus the interim estimates the House agreed to on March 22, 2018.

CANADIAN AIR TRANSPORT SECURITY AUTHORITY

Vote 1—Payments to the Authority for operating and capital expenditures..........$586,157,871