Thank you, Madam Chair.
I appreciate the comments by the member opposite. As a mayor for 14 years in my former life, I found that one of the biggest frustrations was the topic that we're speaking about today. I want to dig a bit deeper and put some reality to some of the experiences that I'm sure many are going through on a day-to-day basis when it comes to the distribution of infrastructure funds.
The fact of the matter is that this has become a sustainable funding envelope for municipalities. We, as upper levels of government, depend on municipalities establishing strategic plans that make up, primarily, their community improvement plans. As the member opposite alluded to, those are expected to be there three to five years in advance. The application for funds is made both to the province and the federal level, and the province is the steward in distributing those funds.
The two questions I have are with respect to just that, the distribution of the funds.
First, has the PBO taken into consideration the provinces and/or territories taking some time in signing bilateral agreements? For example, the second phase was introduced a few months ago, and we've only had seven provinces or territories sign on to their bilaterals. It is a frustration to get those signed so that the money can start to be distributed.
Second, we often see project delays happen. Is the PBO taking into consideration that project delays do occur and, of course with that, the receipts that would otherwise be expected to then be reconciled, meaning that funds are not spent? I'll repeat myself: Funds are not spent until the projects are expensed to the upper levels of government that are financing those projects. Is the PBO taking that into account as well?