Finance committee  Sometimes the faint of heart should go last. However, let me give you an analogy about a challenge that I have. I have to buy a fire truck to replace one that's 35 years old. The new truck can lift a fireman 100 feet in the air to service a hotel that's eight stories high. It's going to cost my community a million dollars.

Finance committee  I can give you my personal view, but I can't speak for the province on this one at all. I had no problem paying the ten dollars for the Coquihalla. If the province had left that toll on there, it's possible that the funding would be available for more upgrades. That's my personal opinion only.

Finance committee  Well, community infrastructure, I can itemize them again and again. I know the community of Revelstoke had $5 million in projects that we funded through that, all very necessary infrastructure pieces that we turned out.

Finance committee  There's no question the gas-tax funding has been a tremendous boost to both of our communities as we've gone forward with it. Some of that funding has gone into what I would call maintenance on the highways and improving that access as we've gone through with it. Bear in mind, this is the Trans-Canada and it's the gateway to those Asian markets: 6,000 vehicles a day, and 55% of that is heavy truck traffic crossing through there.

Finance committee  Thank you very much. This is our presentation on the Trans-Canada Highway, which is a joint federal-provincial responsibility. We have indicated that $150 million over a 10-year period would be a good start. Within my city, I need another $50 million next week.

Finance committee  You're correct. The piece to the east of Kamloops you're talking about, with the bluff, was under contract and then was dropped for various reasons, archeological being primary. There are two sections that have been done west of Sicamous. There are very few pieces there to connect.

Finance committee  I can tell you that I drove my daughter and my granddaughter back from Calgary last year, in August, and I actually pulled off the road. I wouldn't do it at night with the semis on the road at night.

Finance committee  Frankly, I'll talk to anybody, and we have been on their lists with presentations for years. We take every opportunity we can to present this case.

Finance committee  They took the tolls off the Coquihalla Highway only four years ago, and it had paid for itself. The provincial government didn't ask my opinion at that time either. Quite frankly, that would have helped pay for a lot of that infrastructure. There may be other alternatives, but I'd remind you that this is the Trans-Canada Highway.

Finance committee  Yes, lives will very definitely be lost. There will be significant injuries. When looking at the injuries and the extent of those injuries, there may well be an argument to offset a number of these costs. I can't answer the question on whether the FCM included this piece in the infrastructure deficit.

Finance committee  We understand the province has a business case to improve access in the winter. We believe the province and the federal government should be committing to the previous understandings with cash due to the Rockies for a total of $150 million for ten years, to make improvements to bring this stretch of highway up to a safe four-lane standard.

Finance committee  Thank you very much. It's a great pleasure to be here today. I bring with me, of course, Mayor Christina Benty from the Town of Golden. Revelstoke and Golden are communities along the Columbia River around the Big Bend area, and we're separated by the Selkirk Mountains. The Rogers Pass crosses through those mountains, as does the Canadian Pacific rail line and the Trans-Canada Highway.