Transport Committee on Nov. 20th, 2018

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Can you repeat that, please?

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much.

We'll go to Mr. Masse.

[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?

[Bryce Phillips]

Are you referring to the community of Windsor?

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Yes, and also Delray.

[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.

[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?

[Bryce Phillips]

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

[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?

[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.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Okay, so how much is going to community benefits?

[Bryce Phillips]

Do you want a percentage?

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

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

[Bryce Phillips]

I'll ask Heather to answer.

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

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

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

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