Transport committee  The gas tax fund is an excellent program, but in the case of the stimulus program, I think you needed a combination of both. You needed a base amount plus a per capita amount if you wanted that to work to get the money out. Because even under the current gas tax fund, smaller communities, on a per capita basis, don't get a lot of money.

Transport committee  Yes. One is at Elma, Manitoba. It's a water treatment plant, and water distribution, and that's because it's held up through the municipal board hearing process. There have been objections there. I'm not quite sure on the other one, on the top-up.

Transport committee  It's the Elma water project. They're proposing a water treatment and water distribution through the municipality, but it's being opposed, and the municipal board is taking forever to make a decision on their borrowing bylaw. The municipality wants to go ahead with it, but they seem to be running into obstacles.

Transport committee  I'm not familiar with the project. I'm sorry. I cannot comment on that because I'm not familiar with it.

Transport committee  No, I don't think so. As an association, we're in constant contact with our members and we're reminding them that they have to get these projects done by the stimulus deadline of March 31. Yes, there's some pressure to get it done. Again, I think the pressure comes from the lack of skilled labour in some of these specified areas and the fact that people are having to wait for these people to come in order to get their projects done.

Transport committee  There are not huge cost overruns, I must say, but there are increased costs when they are going to tender. But in a lot of cases, tenders are coming in under the projected price.

Transport committee  We're asking for a case-by-case look at the projects. I know that some are going to be well ahead of the targeted deadline, but there are some, as I said, that through no fault of their own.... We have had excessive moisture in Manitoba, a record amount of moisture, and there have been delays in getting the skilled labour to complete these projects, so you have to look at them on a case-by-case basis.

Transport committee  There's no doubt that when you have an infrastructure program of this magnitude, there is that element. The contingency fees are higher. Pipe prices or prices for whatever materials seem to be higher. We are experiencing that in Manitoba.

Transport committee  Well, the municipality has been paying. Where we're seeing the cost overruns is in the specialized equipment, such as equipment for water treatment or sewage treatment. That's where we're seeing it. For normal gravel, for that type of road construction, we don't seem to be seeing that.

Transport committee  Any extension is very welcome, and I think we have to look at that. Again, when you look at Manitoba in particular, we're on track, but there are going to be a few that are going to need some help. Once we get closer--such as January--we can monitor at what stage they are in the construction process to determine then how long a deadline extension is needed.

Transport committee  Good morning and thank you. On behalf of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, which represents all 198 municipalities, we want to thank you for the opportunity to present here today. Municipal government has played a huge role in Canada's stimulus plan. Manitoba municipalities have been working flat out to make it a success and want to ensure that every dollar is working to create jobs and build our rural and urban economies for a stronger province and stronger country.

Finance committee  No.

Finance committee  Yes.

Finance committee  Well, Mr. Chairman, I think we were the only province that didn't have a seat at the table. I talk to my counterparts in Alberta and Saskatchewan constantly, but we don't know. We go to the federal government and they say it's the province. We go to the province and they say it's the federal government.

Finance committee  Health care is not a municipal responsibility, it's a provincial responsibility. Yet over the years we've been constantly downloaded. In Manitoba you have to pay 10% toward capital cost if you have a hospital or clinic in your area. We've gone to the RHA system, which is inefficient in Manitoba.