Transport committee  I'll do it in French. The taxation is different in each city. Every city makes choices with regard to the construction of infrastructure. Essentially, all cities have the same mandate, which is to build roads, waterworks, sewers, parks and sports centres. Their municipal mandate was given to them when the Canadian Constitution was agreed upon.

Transport committee  I think that is very good news. It was an excellent decision. That is one of the programs we prefer, precisely because the cities have a certain leeway that allows them to choose their priorities. We consider ourselves a local government and as such, we are closely watched by the media, our citizens and an Auditor General.

Transport committee  Mr. Chair, ladies and gentlemen members of the committee, thank you very much for this invitation. I'm accompanied by Mr. Patrick Robert-Meunier, who works in my office, as well as by Mr. Gilles Carpentier, who is the chair of the Société de transport de l'Outaouais, vice-chair of the executive and municipal councillor; and by Mr.