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.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
We are given a particular appropriation with a mandate, and we serve that particular mandate. Thank you.
Edmonton Riverbend, CPC
Have you been asked by the minister to find ways to balance the budget in 2019?
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
We are allocated our appropriations. We are given a particular mandate and we are spending according to that mandate.
Edmonton Riverbend, CPC
You're here asking for even more money. As the official opposition we're here to hold the government to account on their promises. The promise made was to balance the budget in 2019. I'm asking you, as somebody who is here asking for more money and who already has over $180 billion in infrastructure spending planned over the next 12 years, if you have been asked by your minister to find ways to keep that promise to balance the budget in 2019.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
As I've said, we have a particular budget. We are being asked to deliver on an investing in Canada infrastructure plan, and we are delivering on that plan.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
—but if it's a repetitive question, it can be ruled out of order, and I don't want to take up anybody's time.
Liberal
Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
First off, I just want to preface my comments by stating that I'm very happy that you are encouraging a disciplined asset management culture with your partners as you are making these investments primarily with the municipalities, because it does add more strategic investments and also alleviates the pressure on the property taxpayers. I appreciate that you are going in that direction.
I have a couple of questions. I'll ask them first, and then I'll give all of you a chance to answer.
The first one is for you, Mr. Phillips. It is with respect to working not only on the construction of the bridge but also with your partners for future integration of logistics, trade corridors and things of that nature. Is that happening now, or is the expectation for that to happen after the bridge is constructed? That's my first question.
My second question is with respect to Mr. Masse's comments on community benefits. Is there a plan for immediate community relief with respect to the impacts of the construction? We all know that it does impact on the community with respect to the business community as well as those residents who are in the direct area.
Last, Ms. Gillis, with respect to the PBO, they were here at committee recently and there was some talk about the pace at which infrastructure funding is in fact flowing from the federal government. Can you comment on how and when reimbursements are made?
The PBO also mentioned things like labour shortages in some jurisdictions or the lack of shovel-ready projects in others. In your department's view, what is the biggest obstacle the federal government has to overcome to get projects completed in a timely manner?
Perhaps we could start off with Mr. Phillips.
Chief Executive Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
Thank you for the questions.
On your first question, we have begun discussions with various partners on both sides of the border around the bridge build port of entry and how that will shape up.
As part of the procurement process, you get about 20% of the design completed as part of a bid to put into the procurement, so designs naturally are not complete. That's part of the work that Bridging North America is now doing. They are consulting with various stakeholders. We're assisting in those discussions around things like the technology to be used for a border crossing to make it a seamless crossing where, if you put your manifest in early, for instance, you have straightway access to it.
Chief Executive Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
That is correct.
On your second question on community benefits, I'll give you my brief overview and I'll then turn to Heather to see if she has anything to add.
We have been working with our community partners on both sides of the border. One of the things Bridging North America will be doing is bringing in 3,000 constructors to participate in the bridge build. We're working on where those 3,000 people are going to be located. There will be opportunities for the community to participate in the benefits of this bridge by getting involved in some of the business.
That being said, we're also working at developing the community benefit plan and working with Bridging North America to get the exact plans in place on both sides of the border so that they can execute their obligations in the contract. I know Heather and her team are working closely with Bridging North America on those community benefits.
Is there anything at all you want to add to that, Heather?
Vice-President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
We are well aware that a construction project of this size and scope has the potential to impact the communities on both sides of the border. We have identified a number of measures that need to be implemented by our constructor to mitigate those impacts. They are beginning to coincide with the same timeline as construction.
Liberal
Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON
Is it possible for us to get a written update on how the specifics are progressing? I'm concerned, as I'm sure Mr. Masse is, that those businesses especially, as well as the residents, are negatively impacted with respect to construction.
Can we get something in the next few weeks with respect to a mitigation plan as well as specifics on what you're doing?
Ms. Gillis.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
We've been working very closely with the PBO. Their modelling does work on cash flow. As I mentioned before, because that often comes after the fact, as we're evolving we're changing the model of reimbursement with provinces and territories. We're looking at what we're calling progress billing during the year to try to match more closely what's happening in the ground to the economic reality to be able to flow funds to align with that economic reality. We would do that twice during the year and once at year end. We wouldn't wait until after the projects are completed because that is not a great demonstration of what is happening in the ground.
We've started a pilot project. We've made our first payments with Alberta, based on progress billing under phase two. We've got Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia as part of the pilots. This involves changing accounting systems with municipalities as well so it will come into a phased-in approach over the next couple of years. We are moving forward to try to have a closer reality of the cash flow with the economic activity.
The biggest obstacle with provinces and territories is a large demand, and they have intake process with prioritization. We have to work closely with them to make sure their local realities and needs are served as we're looking at the national outcomes we're trying to achieve.
November 20th, 2018 / 9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Edmonton Riverbend, CPC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Reflecting on some of the questions that were asked today, it's very clear, quite frankly, that the witness hasn't been able to answer any of the questions. The only question that she has been able to answer was the ability to get back to us on the $477 million for the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
It again goes back to my original point that the minister is ultimately accountable for these estimates and the minister isn't here today. The one witness, the deputy minister, has indicated over and over again that she intends to be transparent and I think this is showing anything but. I've been asking a simple question: Has she had a conversation with the minister about balancing the budget? She can't even answer that question.
At future meetings when we have the supplementary estimates, if the deputy minister isn't able to answer the questions, we should focus on bringing the minister in here. Even if we had the Champlain Bridge group in here as well it would be more helpful.
I think at the end of the day, we've had nothing but non-answers given by this particular witness.
Thank you.
Liberal
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Thank you.
I'll go back to a question we had originally on the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. It started having meetings with the Ambassador Bridge.
Are any meetings currently taking place with the Ambassador Bridge since the last ones that Dwight Duncan held? Have there been ongoing meetings with them?
Chief Executive Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
My mandate is the Gordie Howe International Bridge, so I'm not dealing with the Ambassador Bridge.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
So there have been no meetings by you or the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority with regard to the Ambassador Bridge. There's a lot of public concern about the connection.