Evidence of meeting #46 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 cities.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Kevin Quigley  Scholarly Director, Dalhousie University, MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance, As an Individual
Cathy Heron  Councillor, City of St. Albert, and Co-Founder, Alberta Smart City Alliance
Sehl Mellouli  Full Professor, Université Laval, Faculty of Business Administration, As an Individual
Kevin Miller  Director of Public Policy, ChargePoint
Vicki-May Hamm  Mayor, Ville de Magog
Bill Hutchison  Co-Founder and Chair, i-Canada

12:55 p.m.

Director of Public Policy, ChargePoint

Kevin Miller

In the same way that we need smart infrastructure, we need smart regulation. There is always a role to ensure that some of the privacy concerns and security concerns that come up are implemented, but it's often a question of what outcome you are trying to incentivize.

If what we want to do is incentivize charging behaviour, is the only way to do that to use a separate stand-alone meter or can you use what is within a charging station itself that can already do that? Where can we tweak and revisit regulations in order to minimize costs that are unnecessary, reduce burdens on municipal budgets, and increase access to new technologies for a wider audience?

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK

Thank you.

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Thank you. Our time is up.

Mr. Rayes, if you can ask a question and have it answered within one minute, please go ahead.

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'll ask Ms. Hamm my question and I'll try to be brief.

We know how complicated calls for bids can be in municipalities. There are many constraints involved, and cost is the first criterion used in most cases to determine the winning company. More and more often, there's a desire to include a criterion for environmental standards in calls for bids. It's a real conundrum.

What would you say if, for example, the federal government implemented a smart technology standard in the calls for bids to take into account a project's shortcomings over the longer term and not simply cost? It could be worthwhile.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

I think I may have to ask—

1 p.m.

Mayor, Ville de Magog

Vicki-May Hamm

It would be a very good avenue to explore.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

All right, Mayor Hamm, go ahead.

1 p.m.

Mayor, Ville de Magog

Vicki-May Hamm

As you said, Mr. Rayes, there's also more and more of a points system in our calls for bids. In the calls for bids, we try to not only obtain the best price, but also to find the company that shares our values, such as our sustainable development values. We've even held discussions recently on buying locally. That would be another thing to consider. We think the new regulations for local governments will give us more flexibility during calls for bids.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Mayor Hamm—

1 p.m.

Mayor, Ville de Magog

Vicki-May Hamm

An effective technological innovation criterion would be very good.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

I guess I'll call you Vicki as well.

1 p.m.

Voices

Oh, oh!

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

For any of our witnesses, I think you had some great questions today, and if you want to submit further information to the clerk, we would be very happy to have additional comments from you.

Before I let the witnesses go, I have a question for the opposition.

Do you have any additional witnesses for the study for next Tuesday? The clerk does have some.

1 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Madam Chair, I was just speaking about this with my colleague. If it works, we'll submit the names today very shortly.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

That's wonderful.

1 p.m.

Conservative

Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC

I can confirm that we're able to propose someone who will be ready to speak.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

That's terrific. Thank you very much.

Again, thank you to all our witnesses.

The meeting is adjourned.