Transport Committee on May 9th, 2017

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

Through you, Madam Chair, different projects have different benefits for different communities. There could be a project that may not be located in a small community but that benefits a small community. For example, the transmission infrastructure. If you want to build your electrical transmission to reduce your dependence on coal-fired generation and you want to connect to the existing hydro system, those benefits are reaped by communities throughout the region. We feel that regardless of the location or who owns the infrastructure, whether a small community or a province or a region or a big city, it's about the benefit. We feel that every community will be able to reap some benefits from the investments that we are making through our overall infrastructure plan, and particularly through the bank.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Very well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much, Mr. Rayes. We're over time.

Mr. Sikand.

[Gagan Sikand, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Thank you, Ministers, for being here.

My question is also for Minister Sohi.

Could you please give us an update on the progress made for setting up the infrastructure bank before the end of the year?

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

Yesterday we launched the search for the leadership team of the bank. We will be recruiting the CEO for the bank, and the board chair, as well as board members. That information is out. We encourage all Canadians to apply. The legislation has been introduced as part of the budget implementation act. If that is passed by Parliament, the bank will be legally established and our goal will be to have it running by the end of 2017.

[Gagan Sikand, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Thank you.

Minister, I've met with the GTTA that is responsible for Pearson airport, and they've shown me a project of theirs to turn Pearson into a multi-modal hub. Is that the type of project that could potentially access the infrastructure bank?

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

Our goal is to look outside the box and not be confined to saying that this project doesn't fit and another project does fit. We will look at various options to support those kinds of transformative projects, whether it's in the GTA or other smaller areas. The bank could potentially play a role, because if there's revenue attached to the project which could pay off the cost of capital as well as provide a rate of return for the private sector, we will definitely be looking at those kinds of projects that are transformative for communities—and there's a very exciting project linking the airport to all parts of the GTA.

Minister Garneau is more familiar with the overall airport plans. Maybe he can further elaborate on them, but those are the kinds of projects the bank will definitely look at.

[Gagan Sikand, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Thank you for your answers.

I'll be splitting my time with my colleague, Mr. Badawey.

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Sikand, and Madam Chair.

I have a question for Minister Garneau on his statement that there will be “a national trade corridors fund to support investments in trade-related transportation” infrastructure.

For the existing crown or private assets that are expected to enhance the existing trade corridors and the possibility of nationally designated trade corridors—thereby adding to the overall economic positioning and performance of that particular area—is it safe to say that funds can be brought forward or attached to those assets to enhance their performance?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

I will say that with respect to a national trade corridors fund and the overall trade and transportation corridors initiative, our focus is really driven by how we make our trade corridors—which are vital for our economy—as efficient as possible.

There are a number of bottlenecks across the country, too numerous to mention but large in number. As you know, under the previous government, there were some initiatives that were undertaken in that same direction. They have yielded some good results, but there's still more work to be done.

If it represents an opportunity to make our trade corridors more efficient, if it represents an opportunity to remove a bottleneck, we will be looking at all of those cases and making decisions based on where we get the best bang for our buck and where we get the best improvement in terms of the fluidity and efficiency of our trade corridors. We're not limiting ourselves overly. We're looking at the efficiency of our trade corridors.

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

Minister Sohi, smart cities and investments and community growth planning sort of align with where Minister Garneau is going with trade corridors.

If in fact a municipality, region, or jurisdiction—an economic cluster—sees itself as a trade corridor...and your initiative with smart cities, and of course getting returns on infrastructure investments and improvements to infrastructure assets, trade corridor assets, and others....

Is it the intent to align a lot of your funding and the direction you're taking with respect to funding allocations with those various strategies?

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

Through you, Madam Chair, absolutely. We feel that we can tap into the technology and innovation that is fostered in our communities by launching this challenge, whether it's dealing with, as Minister Garneau was saying, the pinch points that we feel on a take-away [Inaudible—Editor]. Technology can be used for that. Technology can also be used to improve services. Columbus, U.S.A. won the challenge from the U.S. transportation department and ended up reducing infant mortality rates in some of its underserved communities by using autonomous vehicles and improving transportation through the use of technology. We see a lot of potential, through the smart cities challenge, to support our municipal sectors, provincial sectors, and community sectors, and to look at cross-collaboration between departments.

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much.

Monsieur Aubin.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister Garneau, the timing could not make me happier to see you.

You probably know that I cannot avoid asking the following question. Many of the flood victims in my area are also potentially victims of vessels navigating at too high a speed on the St. Lawrence River.

Can you shed some light on this? Is the department still analyzing the various elements or have you actually launched an investigation into the events in Yamachiche?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

I thank my colleague for his questions.

For everyone's benefit, the role of Transport Canada, when the water levels are high, is to issue a notice to shipping through—

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

I'm going to interrupt you, Mr. Minister. I have received excellent service from your department.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

If that's all you want to know, yes, we are indeed doing an investigation. As for navigation, I am coming to that.

I want to inform everyone that, through the Coast Guard, we have imposed speed limits. Indeed, we do not want speed to worsen the effects of flooding. We are investigating the speeding that has been reported to us.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you very much.

I also thank you for the chart you provided this morning. For a visual person like me, this summary is very much appreciated.

With respect to VIA Rail's high-frequency train project, which we have discussed a number of times, it seems to me that it would definitely have a place in the section entitled “Green and Innovative Transportation”. Unfortunately, neither in the wording nor in the measures, let alone in the budgets, I cannot find where a project like that is.

It seems to me that, in this case, we have to act quickly enough to ensure that the REM project in Montreal and the VIA Rail high-frequency train project are able to develop jointly. You are aware of the problem with the Mount Royal Tunnel.

Can I expect to see this project in this or any other section?

Furthermore, would you be able to forward to the clerk of the committee the studies that are helping you make a decision on the VIA Rail project?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Thank you for those two questions.

I understand your impatience, but we must, of course, take the appropriate steps. This is a huge project. As you know, that is why we have been studying the project. To do so, we have even put money aside. It's complex. Given that we are talking about the Quebec City-Windsor corridor, there are many factors to consider. This is especially true since we are talking about a possible investment of taxpayers' money. We have to look at it closely.

As for the connection between the REM and the high-frequency train, I know that the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and VIA Rail are discussing the tunnel. I can assure you that discussions are ongoing, and so is the study on the viability of this project. When we get the results, it goes without saying that we will make them public, because we will have to make a decision.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

In terms of the tabling of studies, would it be possible for the committee to take note of that?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

When we decide to make it public, it goes without saying that the committee will be able to see what our report and our recommendations contain.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Minister.

We are in the process of completing a study on aviation safety. Extensive testimony has caused us concern, at the very least. We cannot stand idly by. To your knowledge, does Transport Canada follow all of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines, practices and standards?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

We take the safety of air travel seriously and we are constantly vigilant. In addition, we receive reports from the Transportation Safety Board with the ensuing recommendations. This is another important part of our decision-making process. Other agencies, such as the Office of the Auditor General, also make recommendations from time to time.

Whether it's through our involvement in ICAO or the aviation safety administration here in Canada, we are committed to aviation safety and we are vigilant in that regard.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

When a witness before this committee tells us that eight of the 13 ICAO standards are not being met, does an alarm bell go off at Transport Canada offices?