Denis Lebel

[Infrastructure, May 8th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I find it incredible that this member, with all the years he has spent in the House, does not know how the process works. Incredible.

In Quebec, it starts with the province approving the projects. We sent an agreement to the province of Quebec on November 5. It is up to the province to send it back to us so we can sign it.

Therefore, my answer is that the member needs to ask the Government of Quebec this question, because we are ready to sign the agreement.

We are a few days or weeks away from signing a long-awaited agreement with the new government. Quebec determines which files take priority. Mayors in the member's region know that, even if he does not.

[Champlain Bridge, May 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, construction is under way on a temporary causeway-bridge to bypass traffic from the existing Île des Soeurs Bridge precisely to keep traffic and the region's economy moving.

While they keep talking, we keep working. I thank all those who are working on the new bridge project. We will deliver it through a public-private partnership. There will be a bridge and there will be a toll.

[Champlain Bridge, May 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we are building this new bridge largely out of consideration for the economy in eastern Canada and the greater Montreal region. Things are moving forward. A new bridge will be built.

The request for qualifications for consortiums interested in building the new bridge closes today. While my friend keeps talking, we are getting things done.

[Champlain Bridge, May 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it would be very bad if there was no plan to build a new bridge. We will build a new bridge, which is what is most important here. We will do so with our partners. Yesterday I met with Quebec's new transportation minister. We are working together. We do not need any lectures. We will build the bridge and do it quickly.

[Champlain Bridge, May 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, there would be chaos if the government did not take responsibility. We have taken responsibility.

We have taken responsibility, and we will build a new bridge over the St. Lawrence. While the member is trying to turn this issue into a political one, we are focused on the economy. We will build the new bridge over the St. Lawrence. The public-private partnership was announced on October 5, 2011. There will be public transit and yes, there will be a toll.

[Infrastructure, April 9th, 2014]

That is false, Mr. Speaker. I said there were several components. There is the community improvement fund, which includes background on the gas tax and GST credit, amounting to $32 billion. There is the building Canada fund, which includes $4 billion to support projects of national importance and $10 billion reserved for provinces and territories. There is $1.25 billion for P3 Canada, and the $6 billion for current programs will continue to flow. That is the best ever.

[Infrastructure, April 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, that is completely false. We have sent renewals of all the components of the building Canada plan to provinces and territories. There are several components to the plan. The building Canada plan will be a very good plan, the longest ever, with more money than we ever invested. We have no lesson to receive on this point.

[Infrastructure, April 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, our government respects the jurisdiction of provinces, and transit is under provincial jurisdiction.

Under all components of the new building Canada plan, transit is available for municipalities in the country. Note that they will propose projects, and we will analyze them.

[Infrastructure, April 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague's statements are false. It is not true that the amount allocated for all types of projects undertaken by Canadian municipalities is being reduced. That is false.

Municipalities across Canada are eligible for even more money than before with the renewal of the gas tax and the GST credit. This will total more than $32 billion, and 71% of the plan funds will go to municipalities. His information is wrong.

[Infrastructure, April 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the money is already available. We will renew the gas tax fund with municipalities and provinces all across the country. That is more than $2 billion a year. That is $32 billion for 10 years only for municipalities. They will receive 71% of all that plan of $53 billion.

I would invite them to vote for this plan, because it is the best plan we have ever had.