Transport committee  We're fortunate to have the road in Sept-Îles, but I should point out that we have the third busiest airport in Quebec. It's a regional hub, a place where passengers arrive from the north, the Far North, Wabush and all the communities east of the city. So our infrastructure has t

Transport committee  Thank you for your question. I'm thinking in particular of the recreational and sports infrastructure financial assistance program, PAFIRS. During the last campaign, needs were in the order of $1.4 billion and and the fund had only $282 million. The fund includes money from both

Transport committee  It's actually even tougher when we're told that we'll be getting a road and, consequently, that there will be no investment in other infrastructure, but the road doesn't come quickly. However, you're right about the fishing. There's fishing all along the coast. Earlier I said t

Transport committee  You're right to bring up competition. There are places where it's not possible as a result of the number of people who live there. That has to be acknowledged. However, we shouldn't have to subsidize excessive costs either. Somewhat the same model applies in aviation. We subsidi

Transport committee  A special effort has been made in recent years. Naturally, even programs that come from Ottawa are, in many instances, administered by Quebec City, and they've finally understood that the region has to be served. We're seeing efforts being made to do that. Commitments have even b

Transport committee  I think you've asked an important question. Private companies are in business to make profits, whether in this sector or elsewhere, even in aviation. So they'll go where the money is, which is where populations are concentrated. The government naturally has to help serve places

Transport committee  The benefits would be enormous, not only for Quebec, but for Newfoundland and Labrador as well. I think the road would provide much quicker access to certain places, depending on it's starting point. Trade between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador would increase and benefit t

Transport committee  Although it's very hard to reach a consensus on a large region such as ours, there's a consensus on the issue among the regional population and even among the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. We met with mayors from Newfoundland and Labrador and the federal minister of the ti

Transport committee  Competition declines every time Air Canada is significantly subsidized. We've experienced it. So that's my biggest fear. Air Canada has a virtual monopoly in Quebec. We're setting up a cooperative that will provide a minimum fee schedule, and that will belong to us. We know this

Transport committee  It's unfortunate, but in some ways it's the same old story; it's the chicken and the egg. There aren't many of us on the North Shore. The total population of the region is approximately 90,000 or 91,000 inhabitants. It's the second largest Quebec region. The coastline is 1,200 k

Transport committee  I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Parsons that most expenditures are incurred in the municipalities. We're on the ground, but it takes time and negotiation to get funding. The project has often started by the time funding is paid out. There should definitely be a way to simplify th

Transport committee  Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for having me once again. This time I hope my remarks, which concern the dynamic use of Canada's territory, will lead to more discussion between us. I am the mayor of Sept-Îles, an eastern Quebec city located near the

Transport committee  Good afternoon, everyone. I apologize, we have been trying to log in for an hour. My name is Réjean Porlier and I am the Mayor of Sept-Îles. I am also responsible for the transportation committee for the assembly of North Shore RCMs. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to begin