Evidence of meeting #121 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 project.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Kelly Gillis  Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
Bryce Phillips  Chief Executive Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
Matt Jeneroux  Edmonton Riverbend, CPC
Heather Grondin  Vice-President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
Churence Rogers  Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, Lib.
Peter Lantin  President, Council of the Haida Nation
Councillor Marilyn Slett  Chief Councillor, Heiltsuk Tribal Council
John Helin  Mayor, Lax Kw'alaams Band
Calvin Helin  Chairman and President, Eagle Spirit Energy Holding Ltd.
Natalie Anderson  Referrals Coordinator, Cowichan Tribes

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC

Thank you, Madam Chair.

As I was saying, within less than four years or close to the four-year mark, we will have a bridge. Obviously, in any big construction, there are always going to be unexpected delays.

I'm sure Quebecers who commute everyday across the existing Champlain bridge were disappointed to learn that the new bridge would not be open to vehicles until the spring. The Signature on the Saint Lawrence Group confirmed that the bridge would open in June 2019 at the latest.

What are the main factors that will determine the official opening of the new Champlain bridge?

9:05 a.m.

Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada

Kelly Gillis

Thank you for the question.

Weather is the biggest factor. Some work can't be done in the rain or cold. The bulk of the construction will be completed in December, leaving the work that couldn't be done during the winter for the spring. Taking into account the weather and the number of days necessary to complete the work, we can confirm that the bridge will open no later than the end of June, but likely sooner.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC

You said weather was the biggest factor. Surely, it's a major consideration when spreading asphalt. Do you need the weather to co-operate in order to carry out any other activities? Tell us a bit more about that, if you would.

9:05 a.m.

Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada

Kelly Gillis

It's asphalt and waterproofing.

Those are the two main activities that really depend on the weather. They can't be done in the winter. Apart from those two activities, the bridge will be completely finished by the end of December.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC

I'm really glad to see that, in the Montreal area, planning and construction of the Réseau express métropolitain, or REM, are progressing nicely, thanks to the federal government's investment in the public transit project. Investments in public transit projects like this one are paramount.

Explain for us, if you would, the process behind the Canada Infrastructure Bank's decision to invest in the project, as well as what it means for other public transit projects in Quebec.

9:05 a.m.

Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada

Kelly Gillis

The Canada Infrastructure Bank prioritizes large-scale transformational projects all over the country. When the REM was initially announced, obtaining assistance from the bank was a possibility in order to explore financing options to advance and carry out the project. That's precisely why the bank was created. It considers other projects that involve transportation and trade corridors and energy.

It looks at what are the higher risk projects that you can advance, that really need an additional type of funding, that have a revenue stream, and that we can crowd in private sector investment.

It's looked at very much as a complementary tool to the other types of opportunities to help advance public infrastructure in the country.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC

I want to come back to the bridge. We were talking about the completion and having a problem with respect to the date because of the weather, but what about the rest of the bridge? You were mentioning the asphalt and the finishing touches. What about the structure, the metal, everything else that's ongoing? What's the status of that?

9:05 a.m.

Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada

Kelly Gillis

That is proceeding, and as Signature sur le Saint-Laurent announced at our October 25 media briefing, it will be structurally complete before the end of December.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC

Can you repeat that, please?

9:05 a.m.

Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada

Kelly Gillis

It will be structurally complete before the end of December. Signature sur le Saint-Laurent did a technical briefing with us and the minister on October 25 to try to be very transparent on the status of the bridge and the advancements of the construction.

I mentioned that you can walk across it, and that's because all of the major components of the bridge will be in place before the end of December, which reduces the construction risk. Then from there, as I mentioned, certain work such as asphalt, weatherproofing and waterproofing can't be done until the temperature and humidity factors are correct. But with the days that they need to complete that, they are sure they can complete it before the end of June.

9:10 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Thank you very much.

We'll go to Mr. Masse.

9:10 a.m.

NDP

Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My questions are on bridges.

First of all, I want to publicly acknowledge your support and work to get a new border crossing in Windsor. I would be remiss if I didn't, with all the meetings we've had in Washington and other places over the years. We finally see it happening. I had my first public meeting in 1997 related to this.

Mr. Phillips, what do you think the community's number one objective was with regard to building this bridge?

9:10 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Bryce Phillips

Are you referring to the community of Windsor?

9:10 a.m.

NDP

Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON

Yes, and also Delray.

9:10 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Bryce Phillips

The community of Delray, in Detroit.

On both sides of the border, the way the current crossing is used is crucial to the supply chain. As I'm sure you're aware, Mr. Masse, an auto part crosses the border seven times before it's installed into a car. So I think the key element of the Gordie Howe International Bridge is to ensure that we not only have capacity, but also redundancy in terms of that supply chain.

November 20th, 2018 / 9:10 a.m.

NDP

Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON

That's partially it, but it was also to get international trucks off city streets. There are kids who go to school at Assumption and General Brock and other places. Some of them were tested by Health Canada because of the carcinogens and the pollution. Delray now is getting a little bit more of that, because they didn't have this border crossing in their community. The Gordie Howe bridge is the great compromise amongst the community and so forth.

I did some research with regard to mitigation costs and environmental assessments. The average in the United States is around 4.42% and upwards of 11% for urban areas for community benefits. What is the percentage for community benefits that will come from your project? Is the $5.7 billion the all-in total cost from start to finish of the Gordie Howe bridge? What percentage of that is going to community benefits?

9:10 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Bryce Phillips

The $5.7-billion project cost is costs all in, so it's design, construction, operation, maintenance, rehabilitation and financing.

9:10 a.m.

NDP

Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON

Is that all in from the very first time they put in a shovel and purchased the property, or is that just what's happening right now to build the bridge? Is this the accumulated costs from buying the dogpatch, as we called it, in the west end, the area where the bridge is, where we expropriated homes and other areas? Does it include that footprint, or is this just the $5.7 billion to build it after the construction of the plazas to what we have now?

9:10 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Bryce Phillips

The $5.7 billion is the contract that we signed with Bridging North America to design, build, operate, maintain, rehabilitate and finance the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

9:10 a.m.

NDP

Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON

Okay, so how much is going to community benefits?

9:10 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Bryce Phillips

Do you want a percentage?

9:10 a.m.

NDP

Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON

Well, even just how much. I can break it down later.

9:10 a.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Bryce Phillips

I'll ask Heather to answer.

9:10 a.m.

Heather Grondin Vice-President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

We haven't identified a percentage that is going to be—

9:10 a.m.

NDP

Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON

I just want to know how much is going....