I guess that's presumptuous. We'll deal with that when that motion comes to the floor.
As I was stating, Mr. Chair, it matters for Canadians, as I was mentioning earlier, in particular, indigenous and rural communities. These investments ensure that they're connected, especially with broadband, so that they have the ability to stay connected throughout the country. The fact that the Conservatives would insult indigenous and rural communities in Alberta by calling this somehow a slush fund, as was done in past testimony, is somewhat, quite frankly, deplorable.
In closing, let us talk about Saskatoon and the $27.3 million to the English River First Nation project for waste-water treatment. This will be the first indigenous-owned waste-water treatment plant, and as more is being invested in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan, will be recognized throughout the CIB.
Is that more Liberal insiders getting rich? I don't think so. Is it real investment for indigenous communities so that they have economic development within their communities and they can ensure that they in fact have clean water?
The development of waste-water treatment plants allows for economic development and growth in Saskatoon. Are the Conservatives suggesting that the jobs created from this infrastructure investment should be lost and that those families should be sent pink slips because Conservatives want to cancel these projects?
There are shovels in the ground, and we're moving forward with needed investment around this country, but again, in doing so, want to accelerate that investment by not putting the financial burden on taxpayers. There are jobs happening in communities right now. Conservatives would see those employees fired as those shovel-ready projects are under way. It is completely reckless to destroy local economies and prevent local families from being able to provide for themselves because of Conservative ideology. The Conservatives do not believe they should be helping to build Canada, so they want to tear it down.
After all that is said, the desire by the Conservatives and others across the floor is to include the minister. On what I mentioned with respect to the history of the—I'll use the word—structure in the past, the Conservative structure, PPP Canada, the structure that we have brought forward with the CIB, the Canada Infrastructure Bank, is the same concept, with this one being obviously more productive.
If we're going to involve the minister, that's fine. Let's get him out. Let's have that discussion. Hopefully, that will satisfy the opposition and opposition members on all sides.
I would like to put an amendment forward that, if that's going to carry or if that's going to be the intent of the opposition, we also include the former minister, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, on that witness list.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.