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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 88
Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 7:32 p.m. to 9:32 p.m.
Televised
Presiding
Peter Schiefke, Chair (Liberal)

Library of Parliament
• Geneviève Gosselin, Analyst
• Alexandre Lafrenière, Analyst
Department of Transport
• Vincent Robitaille, Assistant Deputy Minister, High Frequency Rail
• François Camiré, Director General, Technical, Engineering and Impact Assessment, High Frequency Rail
• Chantale Côté, Director General, Policy and Governance, High Frequency Rail
• Luis Miguel Izquierdo Martin, Acting Director General, Commercial and Procurement, High Frequency Rail
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, the committee resumed its study of projects of high frequency rail between Quebec City and Toronto, between Calgary and Banff, and between Calgary and Edmonton.

Vincent Robitaille made a statement and answered questions.

The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

Motion

Mark Strahl moved, — That the committee undertakes a five meetings-study to review the impact of the carbon tax on the transportation in place of Canadians and the Minister of Transport appears on this matter and the committee find the additional resource to accommodate these meetings.

Debate arose thereon.

Amendment

Taylor Bachrach moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “to review the impact of the carbon tax on the transportation in place of Canadians and ” with the words “review of the contribution of the transport sector to Canada’s climate emissions profile, the impact of climate change and extreme weather on Canada’s transport sector, and the impact of the carbon tax on the transport sector. That”.

At 7:45 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 7:53 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the amendment of Taylor Bachrach and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Taylor Bachrach, Chris Lewis, Leslyn Lewis, Dan Muys, Mark Strahl — 5;

NAYS: Vance Badawey, Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Ken Hardie, Angelo Iacono, Annie Koutrakis, Churence Rogers — 6.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Taylor Bachrach, Chris Lewis, Leslyn Lewis, Dan Muys, Mark Strahl — 5;

NAYS: Vance Badawey, Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Ken Hardie, Angelo Iacono, Annie Koutrakis, Churence Rogers — 6.

Department of Transport
• Vincent Robitaille, Assistant Deputy Minister, High Frequency Rail
• François Camiré, Director General, Technical, Engineering and Impact Assessment, High Frequency Rail
• Chantale Côté, Director General, Policy and Governance, High Frequency Rail
• Luis Miguel Izquierdo Martin, Acting Director General, Commercial and Procurement, High Frequency Rail
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, the committee resumed its study of projects of high frequency rail between Quebec City and Toronto, between Calgary and Banff, and between Calgary and Edmonton.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

Motion

Leslyn Lewis moved, — Given that, after six and a half years in operation, the Canada Infrastructure Bank:

(a) fails to get important infrastructure built, having only two projects “in use” to date;

(b) fails to leverage private sector dollars at even a 1:1 ratio;

(c) is ineffective, unproductive and can no longer be supported by $35 billion taxpayer dollars during a housing supply crisis and when basic infrastructure in communities across Canada is either absent or in very poor condition;

the committee recognize that the Canada Infrastructure Bank has failed to meet its core mandate and promised value, is not delivering the infrastructure Canadians need, and that the committee report this opinion to the House.

Debate arose thereon.

Amendment

Vance Badawey moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “, and that the committee report this opinion to the House”.

The question was put on the amendment of Vance Badawey and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Vance Badawey, Ken Hardie, Angelo Iacono, Annie Koutrakis, Churence Rogers — 5;

NAYS: Taylor Bachrach, Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Chris Lewis, Leslyn Lewis, Dan Muys, Mark Strahl — 6.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Chris Lewis, Leslyn Lewis, Dan Muys, Mark Strahl — 4;

NAYS: Taylor Bachrach, Vance Badawey, Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Ken Hardie, Angelo Iacono, Annie Koutrakis, Churence Rogers — 7.

Department of Transport
• Vincent Robitaille, Assistant Deputy Minister, High Frequency Rail
• François Camiré, Director General, Technical, Engineering and Impact Assessment, High Frequency Rail
• Chantale Côté, Director General, Policy and Governance, High Frequency Rail
• Luis Miguel Izquierdo Martin, Acting Director General, Commercial and Procurement, High Frequency Rail
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, the committee resumed its study of projects of high frequency rail between Quebec City and Toronto, between Calgary and Banff, and between Calgary and Edmonton.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

Motion

Xavier Barsalou-Duval moved, — That Transport Canada provide the committee with all documents relating to the cost estimate for the TGF project and for a possible project allowing high-speed trains to run, free of any redactions; that these documents be sent to the Clerk of the committee, in both official languages, no later than Friday, November 24, 2023.

Motion

Xavier Barsalou-Duval moved, — That VIA HFR – VIA TGF Inc. produce to the committee all documents relating to the cost estimate for the TGF project and for a possible project allowing the circulation of high-speed trains, free of any redactions; that these documents be sent to the Clerk of the committee, in both official languages, no later than Friday, November 24, 2023.

At 8:49 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 9:01 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Debate arose thereon.

The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

Taylor Bachrach gave notice of the following motion:

That, given multiple recent reports of persons with disabilities facing discrimination and unacceptable treatment while travelling with Canadian airlines, and that Air Canada admitted it violated Canadian disability regulations;

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on the state of accessible transportation for persons with disabilities on Canadian airlines and the Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations;

That the committee invite the Minister of Transport, the Chief Executive Officers of Air Canada and WestJet, the Auditor General of Canada, experts and other stakeholders;

That the committee hold a minimum of three meetings and report its finding and recommendations to the House; and

That the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

At 9:32 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Carine Grand-Jean
Clerk of the committee