Government Operations committee  I do not have that data in percentages. We are a national organization, so we are not aware of everything that goes on in each of the municipalities in Canada. However, according to our figures, about 150 P3s are in place or in development in Canadian municipalities. Imagine the total number of projects in all the municipalities of Canada.

Government Operations committee  Do you want to answer that, Adam? Go ahead.

Government Operations committee  Michael could answer questions about construction teams better than me. But the reason why we are saying that it is important to have a capacity-building program for municipalities is so that we can be sure that municipal employees understand exactly how contracts have to be prepared and how P3 programs have to be managed.

Government Operations committee  With respect to CETA, our position has been pretty clear from the very beginning. We've had very good dialogue with the government on this matter. There are a variety of issues, but ultimately there are three things that are really important. One is reciprocity: if we're giving access, then our companies should also have access in the same way.

Government Operations committee  I agree with what Michael just said about the need for an integrated approach so that we're not faced with this either-or scenario. As to the original question about the percentage, the real issue for us is that there should be no conditionality about it. There are options, and it's a tool among a variety of tools.

Government Operations committee  The question was whether there were any additional requests. We noted, not specific to Edmonton but just generally, that there's a P3 municipal guide that covers the need for openness and transparency in the way proposals are developed and in the way you make sure that everybody knows the rules of the game from the start.

Government Operations committee  That's fine, Mr. Chairman.

Government Operations committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. We really appreciate the invitation this morning. I would like to start by saying that the FCM is the voice of the municipal governments. We have 2,000 members from all over Canada. Our members represent 90% of the Canadian population. So we have some perspective on what is happening in the trenches all across Canada.

Transport committee  There is a role for the private sector. I wouldn't put a percentage on it because it would depend on specific situations. The tradition has been a third, a third, and a third. I would say that when it's a third, a third, a third, the municipalities end up paying more than a third, just because there are all kinds of costs that are implied in the exercise.

Transport committee  Right. Traditionally, the federal government has been in the financing game for capital. It creates challenges. If you look at last year, in the city of Toronto, the financing available for the TTC through provincial-federal transfers and through the fare box was not sufficient to maintain the growth.

Transport committee  No. The infrastructure stock in this country is extensive and out of date, so we would be arguing that it needs to be not just for new infrastructure, because there's so much out there that needs to be repaired.

Transport committee  Yes, our smallest member has a population of five.

Transport committee  Absolutely. They're represented around the board table just as the big cities are, and they're understanding a couple of things. One is that the conversation is about a perspective on infrastructure that is global in nature, so their issues would be in that long-term infrastructure planning and acknowledging that the big cities have certain needs, as do the small municipalities, so within the context of a broad infrastructure plan and an infrastructure program of some nature.

Transport committee  Thank you for your time. There are a few questions that were asked. We'll be providing some follow-up information.

Transport committee  Okay, thank you.