Evidence of meeting #7 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 recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
As the minister of this department, are you aware of how much the Crown corporation paid out in bonuses?
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
I am not directly involved in HR discussions with employees at the Canada Infrastructure Bank. I'm happy to have my deputy provide more information about how it works.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
As the minister mentioned, this is an independent Crown that determines its own compensation framework and, upon recommendation of the board of directors, makes those determinations, independent of this ministry.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Thank you.
Minister, both the chair and CEO left very abruptly earlier this year. Why is that?
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
There were changes in all sorts of organizations. Right now, we have a new chair, and we're focused on the future. I will say that you probably have heard of him because he was the head of the Caisse de dépôt. He advanced a number of infrastructure projects, and he also had a—
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Great. I'm sure he has a great background.
Minister, can you tell us how much was paid out in separation or compensation for those two officers of the Crown corporation?
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
I cannot.
Once again, the Crown corporations operate at arm's length from the Government of Canada. My deputy can once again reiterate the information.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
They are Governor In Council appointees, and they are independent of ourselves, so we are not involved in those determinations, nor are we aware of the amount that would have been paid for those amounts that you've mentioned.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Thank you very much. It's a pleasure to see you virtually, Minister.
I just wanted to touch a little bit on some of the questions that came out earlier.
In the previous Parliament, I had the great pleasure of working with your predecessor on securing $70 million for 34 projects for Réseau de transport de Longueuil in my riding, including electric buses and much needed green infrastructure for our transit. We are working on a project for a tramway between Metro Longueuil in my riding to the Terminus Panama, which is the first first phase to connect up with the REM. You mentioned the REM earlier, which is under way—I can guarantee it. Every time I'm on Highway 10, there are a lot of orange cones, so the work is progressing, absolutely.
I wanted to get a sense, if you can elaborate a little more, of the importance of green projects in Quebec and of what you've been hearing.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Certainly, I've been working closely with the Government of Quebec. It is a top priority of the Government of Quebec but also of Quebeckers to advance projects of public transit. There's a huge appetite, I can tell you, for the Government of Quebec to make investments in public transit across the province, and also for green infrastructure projects.
We've seen investments ranging from electric vehicle charging stations to renewable projects, and we continue. We want to move forward with Quebec.
I think Quebec is a great example of a province that understands that their competitiveness rests on moving to a cleaner future, and they've been able to demonstrate that. They are also very fortunate with Hydro-Québec. There are real opportunities there.
I think it's a great example for other provinces of how we can partner to make a real difference to reduce emissions, to do things like reducing congestion in your own riding for residents there. We're going to continue moving forward, looking at opportunities to partner with the Government of Quebec and to improve the lives of all Quebeckers and of course all Canadians.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Thank you.
I have two other questions.
Previously we had a colleague ask about the speed at which approvals are happening. I want to get a sense from you, if you could elaborate a little bit, of what you're doing to help speed up some of those approvals.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Thank you very much.
Certainly, when I came in, I had three priorities. One of the priorities was getting projects moving as quickly as possible, working in partnership with provinces and territories.
I want to give a real shout-out to my deputy as well as all the public servants who are working so incredibly hard. I will get my deputy to provide you with stats about how we've been able to reduce the timeline for projects that do not require Treasury Board approval, which is a large number of projects. We have been able to exceed the timeline required.
Also, I'll just mention one other thing that we have done in the time of COVID. I've explained how the flexibility is incredibly important. We have a new COVID stream that is intended to help provinces advance projects extremely quickly. We want to create jobs. We want to advance investments.
Maybe I'll just ask my deputy. She can just talk about the timelines, maybe, and how we're exceeding the timelines, because it's a very good-news story.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
We work directly with provinces and territories on a daily basis. We have a portal we've established where provinces and territories can download much of their information from their own systems and work with us. We have a 60-day turnaround time, and in most provinces and territories we are exceeding that particular standard. The average, nationally, is 35 days once we receive completed information.
Often, when provinces and territories are working with infrastructure projects, they also work with municipalities and need information from them. From the time we get the complete information to the time we actually provide the approval, it's within a month, which is a significantly reduced time frame from previous programs where we would approve the project, have to negotiate a contribution agreement and then move forward from that, because we have umbrella agreements with all the provinces and territories.
We continually look at how we can expedite our processes.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Thank you.
The last thing I want to touch on is the $14 billion for cities and municipalities in COVID-19.
I know, for instance, a lot of buses have been cancelled in my riding alone just because of lack of ridership.
Can you talk quickly about what we're going to be doing to help cities with these new expenses that are coming up and lack of revenue?
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
This is an issue that does come up. I've had many conversations with municipalities, including my own here in Ottawa. It's a challenging situation.
We advanced the gas tax, which is a small but concrete measure that's making a difference. There are now negotiations on a safe restart agreement with provinces and territories. We've indicated that the federal government will be contributing $14 billion. It's a range of measures, but it includes support for municipalities.
The key is that we want provinces to be stepping up with us. I was heartened to see a while ago that Premier Ford said they were going to be a partner in this. They recognize how important it is.
It's moving forward with provinces and territories to support municipalities so that we can ensure that we get a safe restart going but we get our economy going as well.
Liberal
Conservative
Scot Davidson Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair; and good afternoon, Minister.
It has been 251 days since the Deputy Prime Minister announced in the great riding of Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, my neighbouring riding in York—Simcoe, a $40-million commitment for the Lake Simcoe cleanup fund.
I know you always say that the environment and infrastructure go hand in hand, so that makes me even more excited about that fund.
Therefore, when is your government going to announce the reinstatement of the Lake Simcoe cleanup fund to complete infrastructure projects in York—Simcoe that require attention now?
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
I am happy to follow up with the member with respect to this. I don't know if my deputy has any information about this.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
It is not within our ministry. We certainly can follow up with colleagues to find out the status of—
Conservative
Scot Davidson Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
Yes, but there are infrastructure requests. I've sent a letter regarding a dam that needs rehabilitation. These are important environmental projects that have to happen. No one has actually responded to that letter, and as I said, we're still waiting on that.
I just wonder if you could comment on the reinstatement of the Lake Simcoe cleanup fund.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
I believe this was something that was involving Environment and Climate Change Canada funding. I'm happy to follow up with my colleague and I certainly support the broader objectives. We do need to be working together to ensure that we clean up contaminated sites, that we improve the environment, and as I said, I'm happy to follow up with my colleague and get an answer to the member.
Conservative
Scot Davidson Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
Minister, you talked about good outcomes for Canadians, and that's what I expect. That's what people have put me here for, so I would appreciate a follow-up on that.
I'm going to yield the rest of my time to my colleague Mr. Berthold.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Thank you.
Minister McKenna, we learned today that we still lack many answers.
We don't know how many FIMEAU projects were blocked in Quebec as a result of the issue with the consultation process. We don't know the severance package for the former president of the Canada Infrastructure Bank. We don't know how many billions of taxpayer dollars were invested in housing. We don't know how much money will be provided to municipalities for public transit and to help them stick to their upcoming budgets. Municipalities can't run deficits.
The government moved ahead with providing the money that it already owed municipalities. However, we don't yet know how the new program will work. What's a “shovel-ready” project?
The federal government announced $14 billion. However, the federal government is telling the provinces and municipalities how to use the money. It doesn't trust them. Many projects are ready to begin. Unfortunately, the federal government is slow to move forward and to allow municipalities to launch projects.
Why aren't you helping municipalities deal with the public transit crisis?
Why aren't you helping municipalities deal with the costs incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Right now, there's no agreement, and municipalities aren't receiving any funding.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
You're raising many points in your questions. I'll address the issue of municipalities. You're asking for better accountability and for detailed legal responsibility. You're also asking for a blank cheque for the provinces. What exactly do you want?
