David Collenette

[Highways, March 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, $600 million was allocated in an earlier budget for highways. I have said publicly and I will say it in the House that we would hope that more money could flow into that account in the near future, but government resources are indeed limited and the call on those resources is vast.

On the specific issues of tolls, obviously public-private partnerships and the use of tolls have a place in Canadian society. They have been used successfully. However, the government will not tolerate the use of tolls if it impedes one part of the country from communicating or transporting with the other.

[Judges Act, March 12th, 2001]

Say something intelligent.

[Transportation, March 12th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, we always put safety first. The hon. member and I do not have any disagreement. Of course Transport Canada is responsible for safety and security.

I will take a personal look at this to see what his concerns are and to see if there needs to be any remedy from Transport Canada on this issue.

[Transportation, March 12th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the particular problems at that airport. The hon. member should realize that NavCanada now is an arm's length agency that makes decisions on the operation of a navigation system but is overseen from a security point of view by Transport Canada.

Whenever a security problem is recognized then obviously NavCanada has to take that into account in its operations. However I will take a personal look at the matter and get back to the hon. member.

[Beauport Bay, March 2nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I am quite surprised the hon. member would ask that kind of question. He was the transport critic for the Bloc when we passed the Canada Marine Act in 1998. He is fully aware of the provisions in that piece of legislation that allow directors to be appointed on the nomination of port users and to reflect the views, the attitudes and the aspirations of the surrounding community.

I am surprised that he makes this kind of accusation, knowing the very competent job now done by the Quebec port authority that represents the local people in the city of Quebec.

[The Environment, March 2nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I assure the member that the Minister of the Environment and his officials are certainly working hard on all these environmental questions. They certainly sing from the same page, unlike the member from the Alliance Party.

[The Environment, March 2nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I regret I cannot give a detailed answer to the hon. member today. I will take it as notice and give it to my colleague when he returns on Monday.

[Municipalities, February 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the article was somewhat misleading. I correctly stated that the federal government had pledged $2 billion in the infrastructure fund for municipalities to identify projects in transportation and elsewhere. That is a major commitment of the government.

I also said that with growing urbanization in the country, governments will have to work together to try to assist those people living in cities and that I hoped the constitution would be flexible to allow those kinds of programs to be developed.

[Transportation, February 26th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I remind the hon. member that the Competition Bureau operates at arm's length from the government. The Competition Act was amended last June. His party worked with everybody in support of those amendments.

Let the Competition Bureau do its job and ensure that the air environment, which is improving in terms of competition, continues and all small companies have a chance to compete head on with Air Canada.

[Transportation, February 26th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I might remind the hon. member that his party joined with all parties in the House to support Bill C-26 in the last parliament to establish rules dealing with predatory behaviour and predatory pricing.

The Competition Act was amended. It is working. I am sure the commissioner of competition will be looking at each and every case very closely.