Transport committee  I'd like to add something that is important because it will make it easier to understand. Infrastructure Canada has funds from the gas tax and from federal funding, but not a project description, since this is a transfer. Infrastructure Canada is not the authority responsible for the entire environmental assessment.

Transport committee  The waterkeepers, that's correct. But I do want to speak to that point, because in that, as well as in some other things that have come forward, I think there's the assumption that we at Infrastructure Canada don't do an environmental assessment if the trigger isn't in the Navigable Waters Protection Act.

Transport committee  Thank you. Certainly I understand the concerns of the waterkeepers and their concerns about the environment. So we appreciate that fact. And we have not been engaged in consultations with them. But both with them—

Transport committee  I believe Keith will have some comments on the last question, but on that issue, it is our understanding that the intent is not to miss the major causeways or dams. The way the act is structured now, we must go through the full approval process and have site access, and that can lead to a lot of delays.

Transport committee  On the second question, we are working with our colleagues at the assessment agency to look at ways to streamline environmental assessments, particularly for infrastructure, which we haven't touched on today. Those are evolving now, and we're looking at options, absolutely. On the assessment agency....

Transport committee  From our perspective, we continue to support the streamlining. With respect to the issue of infrastructure and environmental assessment, because it's the funding trigger for us, that will automatically happen on any project that has a project description, even if it's smaller. We are looking at long-term ways to streamline that, but that will automatically happen.

Transport committee  Understood.

Transport committee  We didn't want to make specific proposals at this time. It may be something that the committee, when it undergoes its other consultations, may get responses on from folks. I know our officials at Transport Canada have mentioned just using Internet communication or websites, bringing it into this century in a sense, from that perspective, and using those kinds of tools.

Transport committee  Might I respond to the earlier question? Our understanding of the minor works provisions and the reasons for this was that there was not a formal exclusion list in the current legislation and the exclusions that were occurring were happening on a risk management basis. I would defer to my Transport colleagues to confirm that, but that is my understanding on that issue, Mr.

Transport committee  Mr. Chair, if I might add to that--I believe Mr. Osbaldeston certainly made the point with me, but I believe he made it with the committee as well--right now they must go through that full approval process. So if you're redecking a bridge or putting guardrails in on a bridge, which is not interfering with navigable waters and is a very small type of project, it must be considered and go through that approval process.

Transport committee  Absolutely, and that discretion wouldn't be lost. It's more in these things I gave as examples, redecking a bridge or putting guardrails in. There might be--

Transport committee  Mr. Chair, this may be something we'd want to specifically bring back to our colleagues at Transport Canada, to have them provide a written response to committee members on this particular question. I think they're most expert in the definitions in the act and how it currently applies and how their current risk management approach applies.

Transport committee  I would answer that the issue for us is the impact of the protection of navigable waters. When a project description indicates that there is federal funding, we carry out an environmental assessment in any case. Perhaps I did not fully understand your question. Maybe Keith can add something.

Transport committee  The legislation and issues surrounding environmental assessment vary from province to province. It depends on the project, the legislation and the regulations involved. We generally try to harmonize our efforts with those of the provinces and to work in a coordinated way. Perhaps Keith could add something on this.

Transport committee  Yes, it would be. But I might also turn it over to Keith Grady, who deals with these on a regular basis, Mr. Chair.