Finance committee  Yes, they will continue with the expansion plan. They're projecting that they will finish that by the end of 2014 or early 2015.

Finance committee  I'm Janet Kavanagh, director of port policy at Transport Canada.

Transport committee  It would depend on the nature of the dispute. For instance, if it's with respect to the payment in lieu of taxes, there is a dispute resolution body that both parties can go to. This is at Public Works.

Transport committee  There is no body under the Canada Marine Act. Whether there are other avenues open to them within the municipal context, I'm not sure.

Transport committee  This is why one of the conditions is that it must always be leased to third parties. Those third parties, when they enter into use of that property, pay the same tax rates as any other commercial entity in the city.

Transport committee  On that point, it really reflects and enhances what is already there with respect to many Canada port authorities. Canada port authorities must have a land use plan. That land use plan must take into account surrounding uses of land. That land use plan has to be made public. Cana

Transport committee  The bill really doesn't address leasing terms for Canada port authorities. You usually find those in their letters patent. You always find that in their letters patent. If you are leasing for port activities, currently lease terms are generally around 60 years. If you're looking

Transport committee  Also it's to reinforce the idea that this is a temporary use; whatever purpose you put that land to, it has to be returned to a state that will allow the port to use it for port operations.

Transport committee  Well, at this time we've explicitly not provided for residential use. This is the policy position of the government and of this proposal.

Transport committee  On that one, we've tried to build in sufficient checks and balances that they don't get to a default position. There are timely disclosure requirements with respect to their financial situation. There is always the possibility, I suppose, that a board would act in a very fraudule

Transport committee  As you correctly noted, much of the responsibility with respect to the monitoring and certification that the port is in compliance with the code rests with the board. Should they deliberately not respect that, or mislead in any way, or not notify the ministers required, or someho

Transport committee  The land flexibility issue is to provide ports with a planning tool and allow them to generate revenues from property for the long term. The bill doesn't change anything that is currently in play with respect to municipal zoning or provincial laws.

Transport committee  They would not fall under municipal or provincial zoning or requirements with respect to federal real property, as is the case now and as is the case for all federal entities.

Transport committee  I believe we would look at those standard definitions as to what is there, and really the limit of that is no residential.