The 70/170 highway project is part of the Canada-Quebec subsidiary agreement on transportation development signed in 1985 within the framework of the Economic and Regional Development Agreement (ERDA).
The transportation agreement, administered by Transport Canada on the federal side, expired on October 31, 1993, but commitments for registered projects were met with current funds under the agreement for an additional 12 months up to October 31, 1994.
The project concerned was registered when the agreement was signed. A $25 million portion was to have been financed in equal parts under the agreement between the Canadian and the Quebec governments, $12.5 million each.
The total amount allocated under the agreement from the early stages up to October 31, 1994 was $21,529,600, of which $10,764,800 came from the federal government. Since no additional funding could be allocated after October 31, this sum was for all intents and purposes the federal government's total maximum contribution to this project.
Each government's $1,735,000 shortfall relative to the $12.5 million initially promised was primarily attributable to delays during the course of the project.
The 70/170 project was not able to follow the originally planned schedule. Although the first section between La Baie and Jonquière was completed on schedule, construction was slowed down significantly in 1991 and 1992 because of environmental studies, cancellation of the Jonquière bypass road and budget restrictions in the Quebec department of transport. Later, construction resumed on the Jonquière-Alma section, a four-lane divided highway. The first 3.8-kilometre segment beginning three kilometres north of Jonquière is currently nearing completion. Expropriation for the remainder of the segment leading to the outskirts of Alma has also been completed.
It should be noted that funds which could not be committed to the highway 70/170 project were reallocated to another highway project under the agreement in order to ensure that these funds were spent. The Quebec government is expected to carry this project to completion subject to availability of funds.
*Question No. 114-