Transport Committee on May 9th, 2017

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

We are always prepared to look at what could be improved or the criticism we receive. I would certainly like to see the details of that individual's testimony about non-compliance. If there is a compliance issue on our side, we are always ready to make improvements. I must say, however, that what you are telling me here surprises me. I am certainly prepared to look at that, but in terms of our relations with the ICAO, I think Canada is doing well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much, Mr. Aubin.

I'm sorry, but you're over time.

Mr. Iacono.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My question is for Minister Garneau.

I am a VIA Rail service user. I know that its aging fleet is an important issue for the company.

Does the amount allocated to VIA Rail in the main estimates reflect this need to update the trains?

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

Thank you for your question.

For now, the answer is no. The budget reflects the money required to operate VIA Rail, operating costs and an amount for capital costs. Transport Canada is currently addressing the renewal of railway cars and locomotives. As you know, VIA Rail must be partly funded because its operating costs are not fully covered by ticket sales.

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

Mr. Garneau, I have another question for you, and I would like your response to be very short.

Has the aviation safety budget increased since 2016, yes or no?

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

I will ask one of my colleagues to respond.

[Michael Keenan, Deputy Minister, Department of Transport]

In respect to the budget for aviation security, was the question from 2016-17 to 2017-18, or—

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

I would say 2015. I would say before 2016; 2016 and forward.

[Michael Keenan]

From 2015-16 to 2016-17, I'm going to turn it to.... I apologize, for one second.

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

It's airline safety. That's what I'm talking about.

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

Are we talking about safety or security?

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

Safety.

[Michael Keenan]

I was actually looking up.... I thought the question was for the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. Was it for CATSA or the department?

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

The department.

[Michael Keenan]

For the department, the level is about the same. From 2016-17 to 2017-18, the level in terms of aviation safety and security is about the same, I believe. It's actually a bit higher. It went from $179 million in the 2016-17 main estimates to $185 million in the 2017-18 main estimates. That's a slight increase.

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

Thank you.

Minister Sohi, I have a question for you.

I met with representatives from the Société de transport de Laval. Like many people, they are worried about how long it takes to approve projects in Quebec.

Do you expect to be able to soon announce the list of infrastructure projects selected in Quebec under phase 1?

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

Thank you for the question and through you, Madam Chair, I want to let the committee know that since taking office we have approved more than 200 projects for the Province of Quebec, with a combined investment of close to $2.5 billion.

On public transit, we have received the applications and are reviewing them. We have been working very closely with the province to get them to give us the information, and we received that information very recently. Assuming that these projects meet the criteria, they will be approved very soon.

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

Thank you.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

Minister Sohi, I'm going to jump in here with a quick question. We only have two minutes remaining, so if I could ask you to be concise, that would be very helpful.

My question pertains to investments in small communities. You noted that one of the priorities in your infrastructure plan is rural and northern communities. Specifically, I'd like you to confirm whether there will be dedicated funds for small towns and rural communities, and whether things like recreational infrastructure and community transit would be eligible for those funds?

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

We have done very extensive consultations with small and mid-size communities throughout the country. That is the reason we have introduced $2 billion in dedicated funding focused solely on small, rural, and isolated communities, so they will have that access. They will also qualify for other funding. They're not excluded from applying for other funding.

As for the eligibility criteria—which projects and which areas of investment—we will engage with the provinces to determine where they want those investments to go, along with the mayors from the smaller communities. We want to have a more collaborative approach to determine where the needs are, because each province is unique, and the needs will differ from province to province. We want to engage with them.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

Excellent. This will make a very big difference for the people I represent in rural Nova Scotia.

Very quickly, with respect to the infrastructure bank, I think it's a great idea to take advantage of about $13 trillion in global capital and negative-yield bonds. Is the ability to tap into these global investors' funds for transformational projects going to free up capital from traditional envelopes so we can invest it in smaller communities?

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

Absolutely: that is the goal. In areas where there's a role for the private sector to play to build that necessary infrastructure, that will free up resources that we can invest both in social housing and in building shelters for women fleeing domestic violence, or in investing in rural and northern communities for their much-needed infrastructure demands.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

Excellent. Thank you, Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you.

Mr. Hardie.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

This is a question for both ministers. We're looking at two sources of funding specifically for transportation improvements. When it comes to trade corridors, we had the excellent example of the Roberts Bank rail corridor project in Metro Vancouver where, although it wasn't necessarily by design, there was a lot of complementarity between what was done for the trade corridor and what was also done for the region itself to improve the transportation system in Metro Vancouver. They worked together. One complemented the other.

I'm wondering as you go forward and you're assessing project from municipalities, particularly in trade-sensitive areas, whether or not you two are going to be talking to each other to make sure the investments do complement each other, so that we're not necessarily boosting one thing while the whole program collapses because the other part isn't working very well. I hope that's more or less clear enough for a good long answer.