Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, funds under building Canada do not lapse, so that will be good news for the member opposite to learn. They are rolled over to subsequent years. Projects do take time. We cannot just begin to construct a subway system overnight. Engineering work has to be done and we need to seek the necessary approvals.

Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, some 24 months ago, my premier and the Prime Minister made an important announcement for that subway project. The simple reason why the funds have not flowed is because the shovel is not in the ground. The province has not spent any money. We do not give blank cheques to projects that have not proceeded.

Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, a very wise member of Parliament made the following statement on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation yesterday. She said, “There is always a delay in the actual approval and the cheques being cut”. Mr. Speaker, do you know who said that? The member for Willowdale.

Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, it is because we do not want to cut back two-thirds of the projects that we would like to see go ahead in this country. Let us look at what municipal leaders in the member's own province are saying. The mayor of Welland said, “This project will be a tremendous kickstart for our community”.

Sports Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, in Quebec, we will work very closely with the Government of Quebec and the premier. We will also work with Quebec municipalities. By working together, we can undertake three times the number of projects, create three times the number of jobs and carry out three times the amount of work.

Sports Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, some of my colleagues are in Montreal this morning, with the Premier of Quebec, to make another announcement about support for a project in Quebec. We are going to work with the provinces. I told the committee yesterday that every member of this House is welcome to submit ideas.

Sports Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, in Quebec, I am going to work with the Minister of Public Works, the government of Jean Charest and all my colleagues from Quebec on this side of the House. Ideas from the other side are welcome. I have heard it said that the Bloc is everywhere, that the Bloc members are all over Quebec, gathering ideas from their municipalities.

Government Expenditures  Mr. Speaker, step by step, we are committing funds, those $4 billion, to specific projects right across the country. The Premier of Quebec and my federal counterparts, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Minister for Economic Development for the Regions of Quebec, are in Montreal today making another announcement.

Government Expenditures  Mr. Speaker, we have made numerous announcements over the past few weeks, not just in Saskatchewan where dozens of projects have received the federal green light, but the Prime Minister last week was in British Columbia where he announced a significant amount of support for the Evergreen public transit project.

Government Expenditures  Mr. Speaker, there is always a delay in the actual approval and the cheques being cut. It was not someone in the government but the member for Willowdale who said that yesterday. We want to work constructively with provinces and municipalities, because instead of having $3 billion being spent on infrastructure and job creation, if we work with our provincial and municipal partners we can have $9 billion.

Sports Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, it is unconscionable for that member to make that allegation. I am surprised that such a senior member would do such a thing. I regularly get advice from my cabinet colleagues. I regularly get advice from my colleagues in the opposition. I saw with great interest the member from Markham was actually making a Government of Canada announcement in his constituency, which was very exciting.

Government Operations committee  I couldn't even if I wanted to. All the Treasury Board rules and guidelines would not allow that, even if I wanted to, which I don't.

Government Operations committee  We get Canadians working. The sooner we make these investments, the sooner we get the benefits of the investments. If it's public transit, we get cleaner air and less congestion sooner, in addition to getting people employed. If we invest in a new convention centre, we can up our tourism numbers.

Government Operations committee  They are also here for an hour.

Government Operations committee  You've been a strong lobbyist for projects in Barrie. A few of your city councillors were in to present some projects that were shovel-ready about two weeks ago. I suspect your provincial colleague, Aileen Carroll, would be quite angry if you or I began to make announcements in Ottawa without them.