Evidence of meeting #138 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 communities.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Phil McColeman Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I would be happy to support this motion as well, underscoring some of the reasons my colleague has articulated. As a member of Parliament from Brantford, Ontario, I realized that as an industrial community, a blue-collar community...the great downturn, which was called the worst downturn since the Great Depression, beginning in 2008 and ending roughly in 2010-11.... I watched the Conservative government during those days, as I sat in the benches of the then Conservative government under prime minister Harper. I watched them spend more in infrastructure, more in rebuilding in many communities in my surrounding area. They were rebuilding recreational centres, as the minister has mentioned, building new infrastructure for an urban downtown university, which the parliamentary secretary witnessed when he came to announce the official opening of that facility with me. There were other projects—road building, road repairs, bridge repairs—that we were seized with to keep our economy afloat during those years. We did emerge. We did go into the downturn and emerged better than any of our G7 partners. This is something that's often overlooked.
I pick up on the experience that we've had with the Kathleen—
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
On a point of order, Madam Chair, can we call the question here, please? We're running out of time, with respect, sir.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Mr. Hardie has asked to call the question. It's not admissible.
Mr. Coleman.
Conservative
Phil McColeman Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
It's McColeman, Madam Chair. I get that often, and that's okay.
Conservative
Phil McColeman Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I've been called a lot worse, especially by some of the people across the aisle.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
In essence, if we want to get on with this, we do have one minute left to get to the vote.
Conservative
Phil McColeman Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Okay.
I want to point out that the Prime Minister had promised to shine a light on things. I think the support of this motion goes well beyond just the rhetoric of the minister who says he's non-partisan and then takes a shot at us for the last 10 years of doing nothing, not repairing anything, no maintenance. I wanted to make that point as we enter into this vote.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Is there any further discussion?
Mr. Hardie's motion is before us.
Mr. Aubin.
NDP
Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC
I still don't have any replies about my amendment motion asking that we add “while complying with our calendar, given”. The rest of the motion could stay as is.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Mr. Hardie accepts that amendment.
We'll vote on Mr. Hardie's motion as amended.
(Motion as amended agreed to)
It's unanimous. We have such a great group here.
Thank you very much.
I have to thank you very much, Minister Champagne, for sharing these 90 minutes with us in between a few other things.
We will suspend to go in camera for committee business.
[Proceedings continue in camera]