Transport Committee on March 21st, 2018

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

I will explain it.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

If the federal government is building two $4-billion bridges, and one is paid for out of general revenues and the cost of the other is being borne by the people crossing that bridge, I don't see how that's fair to the people of southwestern Ontario, for whom this bridge is the single most important bridge crossing.

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

You're talking about the Gordie Howe bridge.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

That's right.

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

That's between Canada and the United States.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

That's right, but it's the single most important bridge in the province of Ontario. Twenty-five per cent of all merchandise trade between Canada and the United States passes over that bridge, and it is an incredibly important bridge crossing, just as the Champlain Bridge is for the people living on the south shore of Montreal who need to commute to the Island of Montreal.

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

Let me explain why.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Let me just finish my point.

The other thing I can't understand is why your government and you in particular granted a permit to Manny Moroun to build a second bridge, taking the capacities of bridge crossings at Windsor-Detroit from four lanes to 12 or possibly 16 lanes in an era when cross-border traffic at that border crossing has plummeted by some 40% over the last decade, putting at risk the very financial viability of the Gordie Howe bridge and essentially forcing the people of southwestern Ontario to pay much higher tolls in order to compensate for this drop in traffic in order to ensure that this bridge can be paid off.

I don't understand why you granted that permit last September. I didn't think the answer that you gave to our committee last time was satisfactory. Your government has denied permits for large infrastructure projects in this country, such as Enbridge's northern gateway project, a $7.9-billion project that was in Canada's interests, yet your government and you in particular have granted a permit to an American who has for 40 years worked against Canada's interests at that border crossing, putting our trade at risk.

I don't understand why you granted that permit when your government has denied permits for other large major infrastructure projects in this country.

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

Madam Speaker, is there time for me to answer that?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

You have 30 seconds and I'm willing to give you another 30 seconds, so I'll give you a minute.

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

Thank you.

First, on the Champlain Bridge, we announced our policy in the 2015 election. We said we would not toll the bridge. Our policy is if it's a replacement bridge, we don't toll it. It's replacing the existing bridge, as opposed to being a brand new bridge. Of course, the Gordie Howe bridge is a brand new bridge and will be an extremely important artery for the movement of goods between Canada and the United States. Our projections are that we do need two bridges. We've said that right from the beginning.

Again, for the benefit of everyone, we will be allowing the current Ambassador Bridge to be replaced by a new bridge under very specific conditions with respect to what changes need to be made where the bridge lands on the Windsor side and also with respect to the fact that the existing bridge will have to be closed before the new bridge opens.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you.

Mr. Iacono, go ahead.

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

Madam Chair, if the minister would like to say more about this, I could give him a few minutes of my time. I would be happy to let him answer the question a bit more in depth.

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

I think that I have pretty much answered the question.

Mr. Chong and I have differing opinions on the need to have two bridges. We firmly believe that we need two bridges. We will build the international Gordie-Howe Bridge, a project initiated by the previous government, Mr. Chong's government. We recognize the importance of having a second bridge, but only under certain conditions.

Once the new bridge has been built, it will lead to the shutdown of the existing bridge, which is 90 years old and part of which is already closed because it is unsafe.

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

Thank you, Minister.

First, as a former VIA Rail employee, I would like to thank you for the good news you announced on Monday.

The Government of Canada is continuing the implementation of its successful long-term plan that prioritizes travellers by replacing its fleet for the Quebec-Windsor corridor. Our railway transportation network is booming. In 2016, VIA Rail experienced a 4.1% increase in ridership, and a 9.5% increase in passenger revenues compared with 2015.

Do you think the request of $134.5 million will help maintain that growth? Could you elaborate on how that money will be used?

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

Thank you for your question.

According to what I've been told, over the past four years, VIA Rail's number of passengers has increased, slowly, but in the right direction. People are starting to pick the train more often. We hope that will continue, as it provides an important comfortable alternative. We studied that when we looked into the high-frequency train concept.

As for the $134 million, we think the money will help VIA Rail continue to provide the same level of service. However, as you know, we have decided to start replacing the fleet as of 2022. About a year will be needed to select the contractor. After that, the company that wins the contract to build passenger cars and locomotives will start manufacturing them, so that the first cars would be available in 2022 and so that we would have an entirely new fleet by 2024.

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

Will a percentage of that amount be set aside for safety and the railway?

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

We always ensure to meet safety standards, just as VIA Rail does. As you know, 97% of the railway itself does not belong to VIA Rail, but rather to CN. Only a small portion belongs to VIA Rail.

Another concept will be implemented with the high-frequency train. Over a good portion of the Quebec-Windsor corridor—not 100%, but a good portion—VIA Rail will have its own railway, which will enable trains to travel more quickly and not have to stop to let a CN freight train pass.

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

Aside from faster travel, will that new modern fleet provide anything else to travellers?

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

Absolutely.

First, it will be more reliable because new equipment will be used.

Second, it will be more accessible. Currently, one place on a train is reserved for someone in a wheelchair. According to the contract, the mandate is to have three spaces for those individuals, in addition to having a small elevator that will enable someone in a wheelchair to get on the train, more accessible washrooms and devices to enable people with hearing problems to get safety instructions visually. So we are emphasizing accessibility.

In addition, the new locomotives will help reduce the smog they cause by 85% and reduce greenhouse gases by 5%. There are other important considerations, such as the fact that locomotives will be bidirectional. That way, when a train arrives from a location and wants to return there, it will not have to be turned around. That will help save time, in addition to potentially having dual-mode locomotives—which would use diesel and electrical power—in case the railway system gets electrification later on.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much, Minister Garneau.

We'll move on to Mr. Liepert.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

I have one question that I think should be a one-word answer, and then I'd like to turn it back over to my colleague, Mr. Chong.

My question is with respect to the community participation funding program, for which $3.4 million is being requested. I'm looking at the criteria to access these funds. Among the criteria, eligible activities include “funding to reimburse the costs of coordinating, preparing for and participating in engagement activities....”

I'd like you to assure Canadians, Mr. Minister, that not one cent from this program will go to individuals or organizations that act illegally or that encourage illegal activity with respect to the Trans Mountain pipeline or any other energy project.

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

As you know, budget 2017 provided $1.5 billion in funding over five years to Transport Canada and several other departments to implement the Government of Canada's oceans protection plan. Grants under this element of the OPP assist indigenous and local communities in understanding, identifying, preventing, or mitigating potential effects of marine transportation on their communities. The initiative enables those communities to work collaboratively with federal and other stakeholders, share their knowledge and expertise, and contribute to the development and improvement of Canada's marine transportation system.

Let me drop my notes for a second and be very much more explicit. We need to engage our indigenous peoples, especially in coastal areas, because they have an expertise from living there for thousands of years. They're often the first responders when there are incidents. We need their help, they want to help, and we are going to use their help. This is something that has never been done, but I think it is one of the things that I am most proud of with respect to our government, and that is engaging coastal first nations—and of course we're going to do everything the proper way.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Well, I don't know that you answered my question.

Can you guarantee that no funds from this program will go to organizations that encourage or participate in illegal activity relative to Trans Mountain or any other energy project?

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

Well, we don't condone illegal activities as a government.