Transport Committee on March 7th, 2016

[Dianne Lynn Watts, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

One of the biggest issues, long-standing even back then, I think, has been the conflict in the priorities of the provincial government, the priorities of the cities, and the priorities of the federal government. I'd like to understand how you will square that one.

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Well, thank you for that. You served as a mayor for many, many years, so if you have any ideas you can share with me....

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Dianne Lynn Watts, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

I think we should take the middleman out and just go.... Yes, and that would be the province.

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

I would love to hear from you on those ideas.

But you have identified a problem that we will have to solve. I don't know what the solution will be.

One thing I have been working hard to do is to build a strong relationship with all players, with all partners, our municipal partners and our provincial and territorial partners. The more we can bring them together at the same table to talk about these issues, maybe there's a way for us to streamline.

We can't get the middleman out—

[Dianne Lynn Watts, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Yes, and good luck with that.

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

—because it is a constitutional right, but I think there's a desire to work together.

[Dianne Lynn Watts, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Right.

I have a last question before I run out of time. What's your national tolling policy? It seems different depending on what province you're in, so I'm just curious.

[Helena Borges]

We have a tolling policy for the federal government, for the federal assets, but each jurisdiction does its own tolling policy, as you're suggesting, because most of the roads are owned by provincial governments, not the federal government.

Most of our assets tend to be bridges. We have tolls on pretty well all of our international bridges. We don't have tolls on our domestic bridges, which are the bridges in Montreal primarily.

[Dianne Lynn Watts, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Will you be looking at an overall road pricing strategy in conjunction with provincial governments?

[Jean-François Tremblay]

Yes, that would have to be in conjunction with the provinces.

[Dianne Lynn Watts, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Yes.

[Jean-François Tremblay]

It's more in their responsibility. But it's an interesting idea.

[Dianne Lynn Watts, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Is that a yes or a no?

[Jean-François Tremblay]

No, it's not a yes.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Dianne Lynn Watts, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

I'm trying....

[Jean-François Tremblay]

First of all, I'm not going to abolish the provinces, and second, I would respect their areas of jurisdiction. As you know, some municipalities have started talking about this issue over the past while.

[Dianne Lynn Watts, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

When you look at the cost of infrastructure not only within the jurisdiction of the provinces, but right across Canada, the cost of maintenance and upkeep is significant for everybody. The road pricing makes it fair and equitable for everyone, as opposed to....

Ken and I have had this conversation for years. It seems to me that this would be a way to generate...and it's done, it's a best practice all over the world, except for some provinces in Canada.

I'll leave it at that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much, Ms. Watts.

Mr. Iacono, you have six minutes.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'd like to welcome the minister and his team, and thank them for being with us today.

My question pertains to the Champlain Bridge.

As per your mandate letter, the new Champlain Bridge will be toll-free, requiring changes to the project agreement. In addition, the federal government will have to compensate the private consortium for lost toll revenue, on top of other costs associated with the bridge over the 34-year agreement.

Does the federal government also plan to remove the toll on the federally owned Confederation Bridge between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island?

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Through you, Madam Chair, we have committed to removing the tolling infrastructure that would have been built on the Champlain Bridge. We have communicated that to our private consortium, the partners who are building that piece of infrastructure. We are in the middle of negotiations in order to achieve that.

As far as removing the tolling on the Confederation Bridge is concerned, it is a new bridge, I understand. It wasn't a replacement bridge. I think the federal policy calls for having a toll charged on a new piece of infrastructure, not a replacement piece of infrastructure. I think that's the distinction between the Champlain Bridge and the other bridge, or the Gordie Howe bridge, for example, because that is also a new piece of infrastructure.

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

That was precisely my next question.

What is the federal government's intention with respect to tolling on the federal Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor and Detroit? Will it be the same?

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

It is. A toll will be charged on the Gordie Howe crossing from Windsor to Detroit. It's a much needed building project. Almost $100 billion of trade crosses that crossing each year.

If we want to grow our trade, we need to build that bridge. It's critical that we continue to move forward on that, but it will be a cost recovery, and the toll will be revenue generated by the users of the bridge. That will compensate some of the costs of the bridge. There will be a toll on it, yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much.

Ms. Duncan.