Peter Braid

[Infrastructure, February 28th, 2014]

Yes, indeed, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, the Minister of Infrastructure was pleased to announce a financial contribution toward the ice oval project in Quebec City.

It is important to point out that this contribution comes from uncommitted funds under Quebec's allocation of the existing 2007 building Canada fund, under which amateur sport infrastructure is eligible. The Province of Quebec recently identified this particular project as a priority in its budget.

Any province that has uncommitted funds under the existing 2007 building Canada fund has the option to consider similar approaches.

[Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, February 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Papineau once again yesterday demonstrated that he is in way over his head. Speaking about our government's historic investments in infrastructure, he alleged that our government had in fact cut—wait for it—“thousands of billions” of dollars, whereas one might want to say trillions of dollars.

Our infrastructure plan is very generous, the most generous in Canadian history. We are investing $70 billion in infrastructure over the next 10 years. This compares very favourably with the former Liberal government, which starved provinces and invested only a fraction of what we have invested in provincial and municipal infrastructure.

Perhaps, in the world of the member for Papineau, where budgets balance themselves, investing “thousands of billions” sounds realistic, but in the real world, the member for Papineau is clearly in way over his head.

[Infrastructure, February 27th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to announce that our government made a financial contribution today to the ice oval project in Quebec City. This contribution comes from uncommitted funds under Quebec's allocation of the existing 2007 building Canada fund, under which, of course, amateur sport infrastructure is eligible.

As always, we look to provinces, territories, and municipalities to prioritize their infrastructure projects that are important for their regions.

Any province that has uncommitted funds under the existing 2007 fund can make similar—

[Infrastructure, February 27th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to our record investments, an important component of the new building Canada plan is the gas tax fund.

Here is what our government has done with respect to the gas tax fund: we have extended it; we have doubled it; we have legislated it; and moving forward, we will index the gas tax fund. There is over $22 billion for municipal and provincial infrastructure priority needs specifically through the gas tax fund.

These are record investments. The municipalities and the provinces welcome this.

[Infrastructure, February 27th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that the buttons on that member's calculator are not working properly.

In our budget last year, we announced the longest and the largest infrastructure plan in Canada's history. Since we became government, we have tripled investments in infrastructure.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities welcomes our investments over the next decade. It welcomes the fact that over 70% of the funds will be dedicated to municipal infrastructure priorities.

We are getting the job done.

[Infrastructure, February 27th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I would have two messages for the Liberal Party. The first is that contrary to the Liberals' belief, budgets do not balance themselves. The second is that contrary to their beliefs, money does not grow on trees.

On this side of the House, we will balance the budget by 2015, and we are making record investments in infrastructure with stable and predictable funding over the next decade. That is leadership.

[Intergovernmental Relations, February 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it is our Conservative government that has established the longest and largest infrastructure plan in Canada's history, providing stable and predictable funding over the next decade.

This includes the gas tax fund, under which recreational infrastructure is an eligible category. Here is what we have done with the gas tax fund. We have doubled it. We have made it permanent. We have indexed it. We have provided more flexibility.

Our government has provided the framework agreements to provinces, including Quebec, for their signature. We await their response.

[The Budget, February 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for the question.

As I mentioned, the government is very proud of our commitment to improving infrastructure across the country. We have established the longest and the largest infrastructure plan in Canada's history, with stable and predictable funding over the next decade.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced additional details, including guidelines for the specific programs and the application process. We look forward to hearing from municipalities and provinces what their infrastructure priority projects will be, and we will consider them very closely.

[The Budget, February 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Perth—Wellington for his concern for smaller communities and for the spectacular question.

With our new building Canada plan, our government will, in fact, provide unprecedented support for infrastructure to communities across this country: stable, predictable funding over the next decade. This will include the gas tax fund, a $22-billion fund, with expanded categories and increased flexibility. Yesterday the Prime Minister announced a new $1-billion fund specifically for smaller communities.

We look forward to improving our infrastructure across this country and getting the job done.

[Questions on the Order Paper, February 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.