National Defence committee  We're recapitalizing roads and utility corridors. We are making upgrades to the runway and to lighting. That's pretty much all the detail I had.

National Defence committee  If I understand your question, the point you're getting at how the new construction or new capability fits with what we're already doing. We spend about $1.9 billion a year on infrastructure. If I break that down, it's roughly $150 million for new construction; $250 million for recapitalization of existing infrastructure; and then several hundred million dollars for maintenance and repair, and O and M, and those kinds of thing.

National Defence committee  Thank you, and good morning. Mr. Chair, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for inviting me here to talk about the role that my group, the assistant deputy minister of Infrastructure and Environment, plays in the readiness of the Royal Canadian Air Force. As LGen Michael Hood told you when he spoke to you on April 14, readiness includes our people, our aircraft and systems, and the other resources that together provide the air-power capabilities the government requires to serve Canadians and Canadian interests.

Public Accounts committee  If I could add, Mr. Chair, we need the requirements to develop the plan going forward. This is the plan that we're talking about. We need to consult with the private sector to see how the private sector can help, what new ways of doing things are out there in the marketplace, and how, using the private sector as our partner, it can alleviate pressure on the budgets.

Public Accounts committee  The investment in terms of the barracks is there and it will be used for the troops. That's infrastructure that National Defence needs on an ongoing basis. It won't be wasted. That money was spent in case of something, but over the long-term that will be used.

Public Accounts committee  If I could add to that, Mr. Chair, in business planning this year, National Defence approved a budget ongoing for the agency of $25 million next year, in vote 5, which is capital funds, $45 million in the second year, and $45 million in the third year. The Auditor General's request that the department consider a more stable form of funding has been put in place.

Public Accounts committee  If I could answer that as well, Mr. Chair, there are many priorities at National Defence. There are many on the military side and then many in terms of supporting the military. These are big numbers. The $1.8 billion is the value of the portfolio. If we were to recapitalize everything, that's what the cost would be.

Public Accounts committee  Yes.

Public Accounts committee  Go ahead, Ms. Francoeur.

National Defence committee  At National Defence we have a policy where when moneys come back to the department from the disposal or sale of real property they're reinvested in real property. In this case, the $15 million will go to cover leases in the Ottawa area and some will go to cover remediation of contaminated lands.

National Defence committee  Thank you. National Defence has a significant program share of the federal contaminated sites action plan. This year we will spend roughly $60 million to continue remediating the sites across Canada.

National Defence committee  What we do is based on risk assessments. We have significant work under way at Goose Bay in Labrador. We also are undertaking work at Ipperwash. We have a number of sites. There are quite a few. If you name a specific one, I can tell you what we have.