Transport committee  The new borrowing code would apply to those ports that have, for three consecutive years, revenues of at least $25 million. At this time, that represents Vancouver, Montreal, and Halifax. Over time, presumably other ports could attain that level, and if they so wish, at that ti

Transport committee  Ms. Kavanagh, could you respond to that question?

Transport committee  You will see it contained in one of the issue papers.

Transport committee  What we would have to look at there is the kinds of applications that port authorities would be making in that regard. They are subject to and they would have to have due regard for the land use plans of adjoining municipalities and—

Transport committee  Once again, we're not changing the fundamentals of the act or the letters patent. If we look at some of the letters patent, that will give us an indication of the kind of semi-industrial or commercially related, value-added type of operations some of the ports have deemed to be c

Transport committee  No, not this bill, but it is certainly related.

Transport committee  I'll approach it by virtue of what the ports indicate their capital investment plans are over the next five years. We can verify this, but the last time we did a compilation, I do believe it was close to $1 billion. I will confirm the exact amount, because it will depend on when

Transport committee  Once again, it would depend on what their board of directors determined. There may be no change whatsoever. They may decide they wish to stay within the current regime and their current borrowing limit, if that limit is sufficient; or they may choose to go to the more commerciall

Transport committee  Sir, the port authorities are, if you will, commercially autonomous. It's their board of directors that determines what their capital plans are. We do track the sorts of things that go on. We do hear from port authorities, from time to time, what their projects are. In some cas

Transport committee  That depends on the board. There are some ports that have some flexibility in their borrowing limit. Others have almost reached their limit. However, only the three largest ports would have more freedom on the international trade market. The others are nonetheless subject to the

Transport committee  We could find out and get back to you. In fact, you can find this information in the notes in your folder. But we can find the information and let you know, if you like.

Transport committee  The last point you raised, if I may, is on the St. Lawrence Seaway. As you know, the federal government still owns the infrastructure. In 10 years, almost $300 million—$295 million, I believe—has been invested to maintain that infrastructure, under another program. But the seaway

Transport committee  A large part of the recently released study on the Seaway and the Great Lakes had to do with potential new markets on the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Transport committee  That ports will not...?

Transport committee  Well, now they're not competing for any funds whatsoever. Some of their partners may be eligible for some of those funds, but port authorities are not, and that has been a real impediment. It's an issue that has been raised with regard to their competitive ability relative to oth