Transport committee  It's not our position. If 50% was the number, we would have heard about it during our annual meeting in Toronto. But we don't have a percentage. We know it's not 50%.

Transport committee  It's a fairly long question. I was going to say something to the first part of your question. I think it's important to recognize that the history is what it is. Part of the fact is that negotiating federal–provincial agreements is pretty challenging. Now we're at a point at which there have been some precedents.

Transport committee  And what's particularly important about the gas tax is that it's a predictable, sustainable revenue for the municipalities. So instead of going through project application and approval, etc., the gas tax allows for predictability, long-term planning, long-term management of your affairs in a way that project-based programs don't.

Transport committee  Can I add to that, Mr. Chair?

Transport committee  I think, in addition to what President Cunningham said, in the future there will continue to be difficulties or challenges with the infrastructure deficit at the municipal level, so we will be looking for ways to continue to work with the government to support the ongoing work to rebuild the infrastructure at a municipal level across the country.

Transport committee  If I could just add, for example, there are situations, let's say, in northern Alberta, where the weather and the transition from winter to summer meant the roads were not usable for a certain period of time. So construction equipment couldn't get into sites and projects are behind.

Transport committee  I was going to finish by saying that you started off I think with a very interesting set of comments about the projects being timely, targeted, and temporary, and we all understand that. I don't think what we're talking about changes those three characteristics. All we're saying, in some very specific instances, is that flexibility is required so that the project can be completed, so that the jobs that were anticipated are delivered, and so that the targeted exercise is finished.

Transport committee  We don't have a concrete list, because, as I said to a question from Mr. Kennedy, we work through our provincial associations. We work with the data from the department.

Transport committee  Our members are not telling us that perception of fairness is an obstacle to seeking flexibility, where flexibility is required so that projects can be completed as a result of delays that are beyond the control of the municipalities. I should also say that municipalities are one-third partners in this.

Transport committee  I'd say two things. One, this has been a discussion that's a policy of the board, so the board has understood the broad perspective of our membership. Secondly, the folks who run municipalities are imminently practical people, and they know that as you get into projects, sometimes things happen.

Transport committee  Yes, sir. It is true that it is the first time we have been offered a program with a deadline that is so precise. However, it is also the first time we have had a program that is targeting a specific thing, that is to say the economic crisis in Canada. Because the program was launched to counter the crisis, it was decided that it would only be in effect for a short period of time.

Transport committee  Now, thanks to recent investments and a new spirit of intergovernmental cooperation, Canada is starting to put the brakes on this downward slide. Thousands of cost-shared stimulus projects have brought governments together to create jobs and fight the recession. And the permanent Federal Gas Tax Fund is giving municipalities stable, long-term infrastructure funding for the first time in history.

Transport committee  No, we haven't conducted a survey of all our members. We have been working through the provincial associations to understand the situation in each province, and we've been working with the department to keep track of the global data as we've progressed through the stimulus package.

Transport committee  Thank you, Hans. The FCM has been the national voice of municipal government since 1901. We represent 90 per cent of the Canadian population in more than 1,900 municipalities in every province and territory. Members include Canada's largest cities, small urban and rural communities, and 18 provincial and territorial municipal associations, like our friends in British Columbia.

Government Operations committee  We have presented figures. I want to add that the economic recovery program is much larger, must larger than the corner occupied by municipalities. When it says 90%, that is for the whole thing. Our corner is less than that.