Evidence of meeting #143 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 federal.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Glenn Davis  Vice-President, Policy, Atlantic Chamber of Commerce
Ryan Greer  Senior Director, Transportation and Infrastructure Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Randy Jones  Mayor, Municipality of Gros-Mecatina
Gerry Gros  Mayor, Town of Anchor Point
John Spencer  Mayor, Town of Channel-Port aux Basques
Jim Lane  Councillor, Town of Channel-Port aux Basques
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Marie-France Lafleur

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Councillor Lane, could you do your closing remarks at this point, please?

11:30 a.m.

Councillor, Town of Channel-Port aux Basques

Jim Lane

Okay.

We believe right now that the cost of living and the costs of this ferry service have risen 107%. We're asking the federal government to give us what we believe is needed to make the transportation corridor affordable. People in Newfoundland and Labrador pay up to 25% more for goods and services than people in any other province.

I'm sorry I couldn't finish it all. I'm open for questions. Thank you very much for the opportunity.

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Thank you very much, Councillor Lane.

We'll go to questions. You have six minutes, Mr. Jeneroux.

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB

Thank you, Madam Chair. Did you say six minutes? Great. Thank you.

I want to start with you, Mr. Davis. Thank you for joining us via video conference.

One of the major concerns I and I know many members of our party have heard about in Atlantic Canada is the trade corridors and having the ability to move goods and services in and out of Atlantic Canada, one of the major routes being the P.E.I. Confederation Bridge.

Right now, the current toll on the bridge is $47.75, I believe. Does a toll like that impact the ability to get goods and services in and out of Atlantic Canada?

11:30 a.m.

Vice-President, Policy, Atlantic Chamber of Commerce

Glenn Davis

Sorry, could you repeat that?

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB

Does a toll of around $47.75 impact the ability to get goods and services in and out of Atlantic Canada? Are people not accessing Atlantic Canada because of that toll, perhaps?

11:30 a.m.

Vice-President, Policy, Atlantic Chamber of Commerce

Glenn Davis

I am not aware, in my discussions with the chambers of commerce or any of the industries in P.E.I., that there's a significant problem. Historically, the alternative was to cross by ferry. Understandably, the ferry operation would be a more expensive and time-consuming option. No, we're not seeing the traffic volumes decline. We're pretty sure the tourism numbers and/or the value of exports from P.E.I. in the last couple of years have continued to grow.

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB

Okay. That's fair.

With respect to the twinning of Route 185,you said it's delayed until...well, that it would be finished around 2025. What are some of the reasons for the delays you've seen both in the past and currently?

11:30 a.m.

Vice-President, Policy, Atlantic Chamber of Commerce

Glenn Davis

The entire program for creating what's called the autoroute Claude-Béchard took a phased approach. There are certain portions of the more than 100 kilometres between Rivière-du-Loup and Edmundston that are complete and operational. Right now, though, the remaining 40-odd kilometres are still at the point of undertaking environmental assessments, wildlife assessments, expropriations and so on. Simply put, it's a question of priorities within Quebec's transportation infrastructure program. However, in that it does impact the transportation of goods largely between central Canada and Atlantic Canada, we feel it's of greater national importance than would be suggested by simply waiting until Quebec completes their assessments and conforms with their construction strategy.

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB

So you're finding that the delays are at the Quebec provincial level, in terms of environmental assessments, etc. At the federal level, does everything seem to be moving smoothly on that end, in your opinion?

11:30 a.m.

Vice-President, Policy, Atlantic Chamber of Commerce

Glenn Davis

Right now, the federal government has certainly committed—I can't remember the exact dollar figure—a significant portion of the financing costs. Simply put, the construction schedule is determined by Quebec and they have taken it on with a piecemeal approach.

We think that if there's any pressure or any reminders or emphasis that the federal government can apply in relation to their discussions with Quebec regarding their funding agreements, the Atlantic provinces would greatly appreciate it.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB

That's great.

I want to quickly move on to some of our rural representatives. We'll start with the two at the table here.

Mr. Spencer, your worship, and Councillor Lane, thank you for being here today.

The current government announced a new minister, the Minister of Rural Economic Development. Have you recently received more access to the government through that new minister?

11:35 a.m.

Councillor, Town of Channel-Port aux Basques

Jim Lane

Not of late, but we will be working on that, sir. This presentation took a little longer, and climate change is a big factor in our area as well with regard to transportation. I'm hoping I'll get the chance to answer that in the question period.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB

That's great. Wonderful.

With that being said, I think it's important that this committee also have access to that minister, so I'd like to move the following motion:

That the Committee invite the Minister of Rural Economic Development to appear before the committee no later than Friday, June 7, 2019 to appear on her mandate letter.

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Mr. Hardie.

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC

I like the idea. The timing is getting tight, of course.

Perhaps somebody could remind me. We have also asked the minister to appear to talk about the trade corridor infrastructure. I'm wondering if we could think about combining the two.

11:35 a.m.

An hon. member

Which minister is that?

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC

I'm asking somebody to remind me of what we agreed to, to get if not the minister then somebody to come in and talk about the—

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Are you referring to the Indigenous Affairs—

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC

No, I thought there had been a motion earlier to bring somebody in to talk about the national trade corridor investments and how that's going.

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

We will have somebody to speak about that.

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC

Maybe that's the time when we could include this minister, because they go hand in glove.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB

It's not necessarily linked entirely together, but if the timing works out, I'm certainly amenable to that. It's a thought.

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

We have the motion before us.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB

Madam Chair—