Evidence of meeting #4 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was projects.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
That shows that you are not able to work with the provinces.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
We are trying to work with the provinces. We have the money. In my view, what Canadians, the people we represent, should be worried about is investments in infrastructure that grow our economy and create good jobs.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
However, if we do not get projects from the provinces, there is nothing we can do. Otherwise, things would be better.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Let's talk about it. So, from what I understand, the provinces are to blame if there are no projects.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
I wanted to ask you a question, Ms. McKenna.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer was very clear. Unfortunately, when the federal government invests in the provinces, the provinces no longer invest.
The purpose of all the nice plans and their improvised implementation was to increase the gross domestic product by 0.3%. Unfortunately, that did not happen.
How do you explain the government's failure to achieve that result?
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
As I said, we already have 52,000 projects. If we compare that to the Harper government, which you know—
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
—there are four times more projects than under the Harper government—
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
This is my time, Mr. Chair.
Ms. McKenna, that's very clear. You pointed out that $2.2 million has been invested in Plessisville, in my riding. Thank you very much. Under the Harper government, $100 million was invested in projects in my riding.
Investing in the regions and in infrastructure is not something new or something that the Liberal government invented.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer is very clear in his comments, which were quite harsh. He said that there were no plans, no plans that he could follow up on.
How many organizations and agencies are responsible for the government's $188 billion infrastructure plan?
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
We have a lot of departments working together. We have 14 of them.
What's interesting is that, on the one hand, you talk about the importance of being careful with the money and investing it appropriately, but, on the other hand, you seem to be saying that we should rush and spend the money.
We must do our job. Actually, I want to acknowledge the work of the department because they have two months for regular projects, and six months for major projects.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
That's very tight. We have to be careful with taxpayers' money and we have to invest. Your election campaign plan was to cut—
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Ms. McKenna, let me come back... That was not at all the point of my question.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
That is not at all the point of my question. First, we announced that we would not cancel any projects. You have to stop saying that. That is not true. You are making up stories.
Ms. McKenna, what I wanted to know is this. As a government, you promised to increase the gross domestic product. It hasn't worked. Why has it not worked?
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
I'd like to correct the record. You said that you wanted to slash $18 billion from our infrastructure investments. I don't know which projects you wanted to cut—
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
