Mr. Speaker, I consider it a privilege to address the question from the hon. member for Lévis concerning the government's responsibility for the Quebec bridge. I have had the occasion to drive over the magnificent structure and I have had the opportunity to be on a boat and pass under this historic landmark.
The hon. member for Lévis can ask the question time and time again, but we cannot change the facts. The Quebec bridge has been conveyed to CN along with other entrusted properties. In return, CN accepted a number of commitments, including as the new owner of the bridge, responsibility for a major maintenance program. CN is also committed to the 1993 agreement which transfers to it approximately 78,000 acres by July 1998 and not the year 2000 as was suggested by the hon. member for Lévis.
Despite the fact that the lands are located in six different provinces and jurisdictions, I am pleased to report that CN has made significant progress. Close to 20,000 acres have already been transferred.
Let me remind the hon. member that CN as owner of the bridge must restore this magnificent structure in order to ensure its long term viability. I reiterate that the bridge is CN's responsibility and I am confident it will fulfil its commitment as owner. CN has issued tenders already for more than $1.5 million worth of work which will be undertaken this summer. There will be other significant expenditures by the company in the future.
As the hon. member is aware, the deteriorating physical appearance of the bridge is due in large part to the thousands of vehicles, the vehicular traffic that uses it daily. The hon. member should urge his provincial colleagues to acknowledge that the bridge's main purpose is a highway linking the north and south shore. He should urge his provincial counterparts to sit down with CN to negotiate an accelerated maintenance program that will see the main users pay a fair share.