Transport committee  You're here asking for even more money. As the official opposition we're here to hold the government to account on their promises. The promise made was to balance the budget in 2019. I'm asking you, as somebody who is here asking for more money and who already has over $180 billion in infrastructure spending planned over the next 12 years, if you have been asked by your minister to find ways to keep that promise to balance the budget in 2019.

Transport committee  But you're here asking for more money—

Transport committee  It's a simple question. Has he asked you or not?

Transport committee  Have you spoken with the minister recently?

Transport committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to answer my colleague across the way, and correct me if I'm wrong, Infrastructure Canada, according to the PBO report, the lapsed funds of $727 million were primarily due to delayed spending on infrastructure projects. That's a significant amount of money that was lapsed by you guys because of the delays.

Transport committee  Is that a yes, that you'll be getting that money?

Transport committee  Let me quote Minister Champagne when asked the same question: There's no wiggle room whatsoever. Like I said the contract is clear. We're going to be reviewing the terms and conditions of the contract and trust me we're going to apply it fairly, equitably because we're the government of Canada, but like I said there will be consequences both in terms of timing and financially.

Transport committee  On a point of order, Madam Chair, we're speaking about the estimates of the government.

Transport committee  Do you want to brag about this, Angelo?

Transport committee  It was previously announced in June, so I'm curious. If you could provide those details, that would be fantastic. But $477 million is a fair bit of money for a project that was already allotted when the Prime Minister himself announced it in June 2017. The Canada Infrastructure Bank itself is part of the confusion.

Transport committee  I'm sorry to interrupt you.

Transport committee  If I may, this bridge was an election promise by the Prime Minister that this Christmas break we'd have people driving over the bridge. I don't think they're necessarily feeling the same comfort that they're able to walk over the bridge. How much is estimated to be recovered from these penalties?

Transport committee  When it comes to the sentiments of Canadians, particularly Montrealers, they are feeling the pressure regarding this bridge. Could you perhaps indicate that it might have been a mistake to remove the bridge tolls then, to pay for the maintenance and the building of this bridge?

Transport committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, witnesses, for being here today. I do want to draw your attention to who is not here, Madam Chair. We don't have the minister here. He's ultimately responsible for the supplementary estimates. We do have the Minister of Transport coming. He's coming for an entire 90 minutes, which is good, but it would have been nice to also have the Minister of Infrastructure here as well.

Transport committee  He's coming here on his mandate letter, though, Madam Chair. He's not coming on the supplementary estimates. It would have been nice to have him here for those. The other folks who aren't here are the people from the new Champlain Bridge. It's actually receiving more money than the Gordie Howe bridge.