Evidence of meeting #5 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 billion.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
Yes.
5:30 p.m.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Thank you.
I have another question for you. You know that airports have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Perhaps you'll be able to fill me in on this. I don't necessarily always have all the answers and all the information.
I know that this is primarily a Transport Canada issue, but I was wondering if there are any infrastructure components that you contribute to with respect to airports, such as terminals, runways or whatever.
5:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
Thank you for the question.
We don't have funding for the major airports that are part of Canada's National Airports System. That is really the responsibility of Transport Canada. However, we can have funding for rural airports in Canada, in our rural and northern communities component.
I know that we've invested in these rural airports, for instance to extend a runway to ensure the safety of passengers or food.
This data is also on our website.
5:30 p.m.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Okay.
My next question is about the Canada Infrastructure Bank. A lot of people have been appointed to all kinds of positions.
How many people in senior management and on the board of directors speak French?
5:35 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
The Canada Infrastructure Bank is an independent bank. I could ask the bank to provide information on the language distribution. I don't currently have that information.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
Thank you, Ms. Gillis, and Mr. Barsalou-Duval.
Mr. Bachrach, you have the last round of questioning. You have two and a half minutes
5:35 p.m.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Gillis, budget 2019 estimated that meeting the broadband target would cost $6 billion. We have seen funds rolled out in a bunch of different areas. I'm wondering if all those funds add up to that $6 billion. Is there still a gap between the funds that have been allocated to date and that target cost, or estimated cost, of $6 billion?
5:35 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
At this point in time, there is the $1.75 billion that we've talked about, the $2 billion from the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Our rural and northern fund is eligible for broadband; the gas tax for broadband; and the CRTC has a $750 million fund, also eligible for broadband. That doesn't take into consideration the provinces and territories, who are also putting together programs to fund broadband right now, as well as investments from the private sector. Together, all of those different sources will advance and achieve the target.
5:35 p.m.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Thank you.
To go back to the question I asked the minister earlier about electric buses, one thing I've heard from the electric bus sector is that there seems to be a gap in terms of a funding stream for the feasibility studies that cities need to do in order to ensure that they're using the right technology and using it effectively. Is this something that your department is alive to? The minister mentioned a funded FCM, but I understand there are some challenges with accessing that fund specifically for these kinds of feasibility studies.
5:35 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
Yes, CUTRIC and transit authorities are speaking with us about what are the components and what are the needs to be able to successfully implement a transition to ZEVs.
5:35 p.m.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Thank you.
Looking at the main estimates, funding for public transit, infrastructure, the public transit infrastructure fund, the clean water and waste water fund, the green infrastructure fund, the capacity building for climate change challenges fund, the asset management fund and the strategic infrastructure fund have all fallen relative to last year in the main estimates. What explains that decline or reduction?
5:35 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
The main estimate on how we base our funding is based on forecasts from provinces and territories, based on projects that are approved and moving forward. For each of them, we look program by program, project by project, and work with provinces and territories to estimate what the claims will be in the following year. When we do approve a project, it is a multi-year initiative. There will be different claims coming in each year. That is our best estimate of what would be required to satisfy our obligations in the future year.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
Thank you, Ms. Gillis, and thank you, Mr. Bachrach.
Thank you to the entire team at the department. Great work, people.
Ms. Gillis, you shouldered most of that, so thank you for your time. I'm sure you got some input from your team there as well.
Members, thank you for a great session this afternoon. I think for the most part we recognize the investments that are being made, and with that the benefits to communities, people, organizations and all those who are beneficiaries of a lot of the investments that are being made. Thank you.
5:35 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities, Office of Infrastructure of Canada
Thank you very much.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
Members of the committee, I'm now going to move to your will to look at one motion to receive the consent of the committee to apply one recorded division to the mains and the supplementary estimates. If I can have that....
Do I have a consensus to actually apply one recorded division versus going through every one individually? Do I have consensus on that?
Great. Wonderful. Thank you.
I will ask the clerk to now read off the names to vote, on consent of the committee, which I've already received, to apply the one recorded division, which the clerk is now going to call for, to the mains and the supplementary estimates.
Mr. Clerk, the floor is now yours.
5:35 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Michael MacPherson
The question is on the combination of the mains and the supplementary estimates.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
CANADIAN AIR TRANSPORT SECURITY AUTHORITY
Vote 1—Payments to the Authority for operating and capital expenditures..........$562,700,000
(Vote 1 agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
CANADIAN TRANSPORTATION AGENCY
Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$28,662,545
(Vote 1 agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$726,021,429
Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$150,604,973
Vote 10—Grants and contributions—Efficient Transportation System..........$617,297,513
Vote 15—Grants and contributions—Green and Innovative Transportation System..........$133,823,550
Vote 20—Grants and contributions—Safe and Secure Transportation System..........$40,197,681
(Votes 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
MARINE ATLANTIC INC.
Vote 1—Payments to the corporation..........$55,675,667
(Vote 1 agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
OFFICE OF INFRASTRUCTURE OF CANADA
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$140,524,931
Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$32,589,953
Vote 10—Grants and contributions..........$5,509,279,924
(Votes 1, 5 and 10 agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
THE JACQUES-CARTIER AND CHAMPLAIN BRIDGES INC.
Vote 1—Payments to the corporation..........$327,620,136
(Vote 1 agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
VIA RAIL CANADA INC.
Vote 1—Payments to the Corporation..........$546,909,001
(Vote 1 agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
WINDSOR-DETROIT BRIDGE AUTHORITY
Vote 1—Payments to the Authority..........$778,634,323
(Vote 1 agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
CANADIAN AIR TRANSPORT SECURITY AUTHORITY
Vote 1b—Payments to the Authority for operating and capital expenditures..........$45,628,788
(Vote 1b agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
CANADIAN TRANSPORTATION AGENCY
Vote 1b—Program expenditures..........$9,585,524
(Vote 1b agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT
Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$28,205,543
Vote 5b—Capital expenditures..........$180,467,398
Vote 10b—Grants and contributions—Efficient Transportation System..........$228,768,849
Vote 15b—Grants and contributions—Green and Innovative Transportation System..........$54,934,538
Vote 20b—Grants and contributions—Safe and Secure Transportation System..........$24,197,532
(Votes 1b, 5b, 10b, 15b and 20b agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
MARINE ATLANTIC
Vote 1b—Payments to the corporation..........$2,000,568
(Vote 1b agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
OFFICE OF INFRASTRUCTURE OF CANADA
Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$48,283,519
(Vote 1b agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
THE FEDERAL BRIDGE CORPORATION LIMITED
Vote 1b—Payments to the Corporation..........$832,083
(Vote 1b agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
VIA RAIL CANADA INC.
Vote 1b—Payments to the Corporation..........$4,521,667
(Vote 1b agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
5:40 p.m.
Liberal