Finance committee  Ms. Wasylycia-Leis asked the question in the context of whether or not there's a different way we can use a surplus in this country other than having it totally applied toward the debt. I think what the 2006 budget did was a bit unique in that it did state that we'll make these investments--Ms.

Finance committee  We would say that's a very welcome investment, but of course we need to continue. There probably would be no point in my being here if I said that was enough.

Finance committee  I would also point out that a number of those agreements are cost-shared with provinces, and in some cases municipalities, and, in some cases--this is something we perhaps need to look more and more at--with the private sector in the form of triple fees. Those are all leveraging tools that we need to use.

Finance committee  That's right, but you'll be happy to know, Mr. Dykstra, that I'm not an economist either. I want to put that on the table.

Finance committee  Absolutely. Of course, we have to prioritize. We have to look at what gets us the biggest bang for the buck. I'm here to argue that investing in our key strategic infrastructure, our municipal infrastructure, our transportation infrastructure, is by far one of the best ways you can get that bang.

Finance committee  Ms. Ablonczy, you mentioned the TD Bank and Don Drummond. I should point out that the TD and Mr. Drummond have also come out with report after report citing that unless you also invest in your core infrastructure, including your highway networks, you'll be facing declining productivity, and lower competitiveness as a country as well.

Finance committee  Ms. Wasylycia-Leis, you asked if there was another way, and in fact there was another way in Budget 2006. In fact, it's a bit of a misperception that all of that surplus went to the debt. As you may recall, in Budget 2006 there were two announcements, first of all, that on the public transit infrastructure fund—which is not the name, but that's essentially what it was—$900 million would be applied to that fund if there were a $2 billion—

Finance committee  Fair enough. It was contingent on a $2 billion surplus. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there was an affordable housing infrastructure fund, again contingent on a $2 billion surplus. That, frankly, is not a bad way to do it, because it still ensures that you have fiscal solvency, yet at the same time it takes money from what would otherwise go to the debt and pays for some of the key priorities of Canadians, especially—

Finance committee  We've looked through the Accountability Act to see if in fact there are any provisions that would meet this requirement for ending preferential procurement. There is a section--and we're waiting for a legal opinion from Infrastructure Canada on this--that suggests that the Auditor General of Canada be given investigative authority to look at matched funding programs that the federal government gives to the provinces, where the provinces use that money in an “uneconomical way”.

Finance committee  The Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund has been a very important program. It supports not only urban areas, but all highways in Canada. It is one of the most important sources of funding for the programs and projects not covered by other infrastructure programs. It is worth $2 billion, in addition to what has already been allocated.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thanks to the committee for inviting myself and TRIP here today. The Road and Infrastructure Program of Canada, or TRIP Canada, is a federation of eleven provincial road building and heavy construction associations from across the country, representing over 2,000 member companies.