Mr. Speaker, the answer is simple. It is because big cities, like Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, have all asked for money for public transit, as has the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 53% of the vote.
Infrastructure May 30th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the answer is simple. It is because big cities, like Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, have all asked for money for public transit, as has the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Infrastructure May 30th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, what the government guaranteed is that we would be using the gas tax money in large cities to obtain results that coincided with our national strategy, such as reducing greenhouse gases and having clean water.
We said that smaller places, places with 25,000 people or less, could use the money to rehabilitate roads and bridges because they do not have public transit.
Infrastructure May 30th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, over the weekend the mayor of Winnipeg said that he was pleased to report that we are engaged in intensive discussions to get the deal done and that he was optimistic that we would find a positive solution on the gas tax. There is no problem here.
Infrastructure May 19th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, we included the rehabilitation of roads and bridges as a category for smaller communities. We wanted to direct the bulk of our money toward public transit and water projects so that when we had made our investments, we would be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and clean up water and air. We will do so.
Infrastructure May 19th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the gas tax is to invest in environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure. There are many categories in which a large city like Winnipeg can invest. It could be public transit, waste, waste water, waste management or community energy systems.
We are working with the city of Winnipeg, the province of Manitoba and the President of the Treasury Board to come up with the solution which will work best for Winnipeg.
Infrastructure May 17th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, it is certainly difficult to take that party's statements at face value when its own finance critic has said that the public is perhaps “mistaken about the degree to which we are supportive of some of this spending”.
The Leader of the Opposition said in 2003 that the federal government should not have a new deal with cities and communities. In 2004, his party campaigned on scrapping three out of the four infrastructure programs. In 2005, those members voted at their party congress against sharing the gas tax. These are not the words and actions of a party that is truly supportive of cities and communities.
Infrastructure May 16th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, we are delighted with the two gas tax deals we signed with British Columbia and Alberta, but the funding is at risk unless the budget passes.
If the opposition defeats the budget, all British Columbia and Alberta communities stand to lose funding. For example, greater Vancouver would lose $292 million; Kamloops would lose $5.7 million; Edmonton, $108 million; and Lethbridge, $11 million.
The municipalities are counting on this money for transit, water systems and infrastructure. If the opposition does not vote for the budget, it all goes down.
House of Commons May 13th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, we will be having a confidence vote on the budget on Thursday. At that time we will be able to ask Conservatives whether they support the new deal for cities and communities, the $5 billion gas tax deal.
Mayors across the country want us to do it. They want them to vote for that budget. We will test them on Thursday.
Infrastructure May 9th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, according to scientist David Suzuki, the new deal for cities and communities is truly extraordinary, because it provides an opportunity to improve air and water quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Today, our government has made a commitment that illustrates perfectly the partnership Mr. Suzuki praises.
In cooperation with the City of Ottawa and the province, we have confirmed our support for the city's light rail project. The federal contribution will be $200 million.
Infrastructure May 3rd, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure of announcing, with my hon. colleague, the Minister of Transport, a total of $1.2 billion in transfers for infrastructure in Quebec.
I am pleased that Canada and Quebec have announced priorities with respect to the enhancement of highways, including the Dorval interchange, as well as clean drinking water initiatives.
This announcement also included the details of an agreement in principle with Quebec on the municipal rural infrastructure program.