Transport Committee on Feb. 28th, 2019

[Michael Keenan]

Madam Chair, for these organizations Transport Canada develops a contribution agreement whereby the organization commits to certain activities that advance the purpose of the program—in this case, community capacity, marine safety, coastal ecosystem restoration—and the organization is obliged to carry out those activities for which we are contributing, and we contribute less than 100%.

If the organization did not carry out the activities, then in the administration of the program, we would withhold the payment.

It does happen—not often, but it does happen—that an organization doesn't carry out the activity, so the financial commitment we made when we established the grants and contributions sometimes does not end up resulting in a full payment of that amount, and sometimes ends with no payment.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Thank you.

In the estimates there's an amount of $3.4 million. Would you say this amount is oversubscribed, or do you have any idea how many organizations are actually applying for the community participation funding program?

[Michael Keenan]

I cannot predict exactly how many organizations will end up applying and be recipients going forward, but based on the trends and to date we have seen heavy subscription to this program.

The reason we have seen it is that there has been a significant effort in developing partnerships with coastal indigenous groups on these two issues. They've responded fairly positively and energetically and want to partner in these areas.

For example, on the north coast of B.C., we have a framework agreement with 14 indigenous groups, and we're partnering in many activities that Transport Canada or Fisheries and Oceans would normally just carry out themselves. As a result, there's a fairly heavy subscription for these participation resources.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much, Mr. Keenan.

We will move to Mr. Iacono.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Ms. Martel, I would like to come back to the questions asked about the Champlain Bridge. When will the deconstruction begin? Is it once the new Champlain Bridge is open?

[Sandra Martel]

Yes.

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

Is deconstruction the preferred option because it will then be possible to recycle all the materials?

[Sandra Martel]

Yes.

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

Do you have any idea how much money can be recovered?

[Sandra Martel]

What was your first question?

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

When will the deconstruction begin?

[Sandra Martel]

The process is underway. We will issue a call for tenders in March. After that process, we should be able to award a contract by the end of January or early February of next year.

Bidders will have to design methods and initiate the process from that point on. Their contract and project will start in February next year. We will allow them to spread their project over a three-year period.

In preparing the project, we do take into account the recycling of materials. We are trying to reuse materials, if possible. We are listening to the market to find places where those materials can be reused and recycled. We are looking at everything related to the environment and sustainable development to find compensation sites and improve the surroundings. We are examining all those factors.

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

That's fine, thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Mr. Badawey, do you have a short question?

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

It's a quick question. I want to get back to the question I was asking Ms. Gillis earlier.

If, in fact, the Province of Ontario doesn't come on board with respect to their expected partnership within the investing in Canada fund, are there any plans for the federal government to still move forward with the fund, minus the provincial government, so that we can get some projects out the door for the municipalities?

[Kelly Gillis]

I am not aware of such a plan.

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

To our witnesses—

[Matt Jeneroux]

Madam Chair, just before we conclude—I think we have an extra minute—I have a point of clarification.

We certainly wouldn't want to be offside with you, Madam Chair, but a number of my questions were ruled out of order before I even asked them. I would like clarification as why they were ruled out of order. A number of them were directly tied to the proponent who is building the Champlain Bridge. There's a $15-million request for that bridge directly in these estimates.

I'm hoping you can clarify that, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

The questions need to be pertaining to the supplementary estimates and the votes specifically in front of us. That is my understanding from the clerk. That is the reason I made that decision.

[Matt Jeneroux]

Madam Chair, I'm asking, though, why those particular ones weren't considered to be within the proper line of questioning.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

It was my discretion to be able to make that judgment. I felt that they were not pertaining to what was before us: the supplementary estimates and specifically, votes 1(b), 5(b), 10(b) and 15(b), as well as vote 1(b) under The Jacques-Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc.

Thank you.

[Matt Jeneroux]

You've provided some leeway in the past, Madam Chair, and there were two questions, on the definition of contaminated sites and public health concerns, raised by one of the colleagues opposite, which weren't ruled out of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

They were pertaining specifically to the estimates.

Mr. Jeneroux, in view of the time, I'm going thank all of our witnesses so much for being here this morning.

We're going to suspend, so that you can all exit, and we can continue our work in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]