Evidence of meeting #27 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was projects.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
—what projects would not go ahead? What community centre projects in what ridings—
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
—across the country would not go ahead? What public transit projects wouldn't go ahead? What projects in indigenous communities?
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
What clean drinking water projects wouldn't go ahead? That's what—
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm having a bit of difficulty hearing what the minister is trying to say and I would appreciate it if my colleagues allowed the minister to complete her response.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
Thank you, Mr. Iacono.
Minister, could you finish quickly? Mr. Scheer only has about a minute left.
Go ahead.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Look, I think these investments we're making across the country are really important. I talk to mayors across the country and to indigenous communities who say they're making a huge difference, whether they're investments in clean drinking water, in public transportation or in community or cultural centres.
I could go on. These projects are critically important. I would hope that the member supports these investments, because you know what? They're not—
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
—just good for communities. They're good for tackling climate change and they're good for creating jobs and growth.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
The minister knows that her department has let billions of dollars lapse. Our commitments in the last election were for the same amount of infrastructure dollars to be spent. This government has let those monies lapse. The Auditor General flagged that most of the projects being completed today are from the previous Conservative government's legacy program. She's trying to put her name on our homework and get credit for it.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer has also flagged that there's been no private sector investment in Canada Infrastructure Bank projects. There are missing projects, with no tracking of whether or not the programs are even hitting their own targets.
The minister is coming to Parliament to get approval for new spending in the next cycle, but she hasn't been able to track the money she's already been given.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
I might remind the member of the investments in projects in his riding, including the Town of Ituna water distribution supply with the new wastewater mains and pump station upgrades, the lagoon expansion and the new lift station; drinking water treatment systems in the village of Abernethy; the Muscowpetung hill reconstruction; the Ituna acid management; investments in the rural municipality of Indian Head No. 156.
I could go on. Maybe the member opposite would like those investments—
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
Those are mostly from previous Conservative programs.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
I can provide the list. We will come back to the member with his lists of investments.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
Thank you, Minister McKenna. Thank you, Mr. Scheer.
We are now going to move on to the Liberals.
Mr. Rogers, you have the floor for six minutes.
April 22nd, 2021 / 3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome, Minister. It's good to see you again at our committee and I look forward to this meeting today.
Mr. Chair, I'm splitting my time with my good colleague Mr. Iacono, so I will ask just one question of the minister.
Minister, we're in the depths of a health and economic crisis. The last time you appeared at this committee, you mentioned you had adapted streams under the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan to the realities of COVID-19. Can you provide an update on these important investments and how they are impacting communities now and for the years to come?
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Thank you very much.
Congratulations on getting the Canada Games. I think I heard you are getting them. That's pretty awesome. I think that will mean some infrastructure investments and also some good news across Newfoundland and Labrador.
When the pandemic hit, it was pretty clear to me that we needed to adjust our programs. We needed to make sure we were providing support to provinces and municipalities, sometimes in areas that we don't normally fund.
We created the COVID-19 stream, which allowed provinces and territories to allocate 10% of their money under the Investing in Canada infrastructure program to things like investing in ventilation in schools and long-term care and hospitals.
We don't normally do that. That's provincial jurisdiction. However, these are obviously critically important investments. In fact, just a few weeks ago, or maybe it was last week—in the pandemic I lose track of time—we announced investments in schools across Ontario to improve ventilation. That's critically important. I think we all recognize that we need kids to be back in school, but we need it to be safe. We invested in public long-term care facilities in Ontario also. We have seen the huge challenges there. It also means investments in active transportation, in projects that mean people can get out in nature. We recognize that's critically important.
I would be remiss if I didn't point out that we also doubled the gas tax, the building Canada communities fund, to support municipalities directly. We know they need money. It has been an expensive and challenging time through COVID-19, but we want them to continue building infrastructure.
We're going to continue making investments that will help Canadians get through COVID-19, help municipalities and provinces, but of course then build back better.