Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: Thank you, senator. Of course, I asked them. I had a lengthy meeting last Tuesday with both the Infrastructure Bank CEO and the board chair, Ms. Tamara Vrooman. We went over exactly that kind of question and others.

I still share the disappointment that a number of people have expressed regarding the ability of the Infrastructure Bank to leverage in the proportions that — you’re absolutely right, senator — were announced in the budget decision that created the bank. The ratios have not been reached yet.

I think the bank — and I’ve said so publicly — has had some growing pains. It was slow to get moving; it has been slow to stand up. I see and I hear from premiers, mayors and people in the energy sector of examples where it is becoming more accessible, more obvious and more available as a potential source of funding, but I still think they have work to do. I’ve shared that with the bank.

I am encouraged by the fact that they have now attracted almost $9.7 billion in private and institutional investments, and they have advanced work on 46 projects.

It’s never fast enough. Many of those are multi-year projects that require a considerable ramp-up. Regardless, I certainly share the concerns of Canadians that this is an interesting investment vehicle, but one that needs to be deployed more rapidly and more visibly.

I’ll continue to work with the bank. We’re going to name new directors, I hope, in the coming weeks as well, and that will certainly be my message to them.

[Translation]

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for the question.

You’re absolutely right. The COVID health crisis resulted in all levels of government working together in a way that had never happened before. It was in the best interests of Canadians.

I believe that it was a successful example of Canadian federalism. At one point, I was attending the weekly teleconferences with the premiers and Prime Minister Trudeau.

You’re also absolutely right that the federal government became the financier for all sorts of programs that, in the past, would probably have been well and truly under provincial jurisdiction. I see this in my work as an MP. Canadians increasingly see — and not entirely correctly — the federal government as a court of appeal for provincial decisions that are within their constitutional jurisdiction. I worry about returning to the proper way of doing things and obviously finding a way to work collaboratively with my provincial and territorial counterparts.

I recognize, however, that it is harder to go back. Canadians expect us to work together, including on child care, on infrastructure projects and on climate change. There’s a greater appetite to work together.

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: Senator, thank you for the question. I entirely share your concern around what could be a very significant and innovative support for some of the most vulnerable Canadians, those living with disabilities.

When my cabinet colleague, Minister Qualtrough, whom you referenced, talks at caucus and our full cabinet meetings and paints the economic and social circumstances of many of these people that require this additional support, it behooves all of us — and I applaud the work that this chamber is doing as well — to think of the ways that we can best support those people. This is a significant step in the right direction, but it would be, as you noted, perverse if at the same time provinces and territories either reduced their own support or replaced what we’re hoping is incremental federal support by a corresponding reduction in provincial supports.

To your specific question of whether I have been involved with Ms. Qualtrough, the answer is yes. In discussions with our cabinet colleagues, including the Minister of Finance, have we talked about instruments where we could encourage the provinces — compel, of course, would be a mean word — to join us in that effort of better supporting these people? I’m encouraged by those conversations, including conversations with big provinces like Ontario and other provinces. I think we’ll get to the right place, but you’re right, we need to remain very much focused on this.

[Translation]

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: Thank you for the question, senator. I’m glad to see you in fine form here with us today.

I can assure you that we are well aware of the economic importance of the Bathurst airport. My colleague, MP Serge Cormier, often talks to us about it. I had discussions with him and my colleague, Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor, on this subject a few weeks ago.

As you know, during the COVID-19 pandemic, our government was very generous with regard to airports, as it should have been and as it had to be in order to ensure that this essential infrastructure was still able to operate once the pandemic was behind us.

We are facing challenges when it comes to air services in our region. I’m no economist, but I believe that that is partly due to the pandemic and partly due to the decline in the regional service offering by a number of airlines.

I met one of the vice-presidents of Air Canada recently at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. This is a major challenge in every region of Canada, both in the regions of Quebec and in our region. Yes, we are trying to work with the Bathurst Regional Airport so that we don’t lose this infrastructure, but the problem is twofold because we need to revamp the airport and find a way to encourage airlines to use the airport space that is available. There’s no use in keeping the airport open if there are no airlines there providing services.

We’ll continue to do what is necessary to keep the airport operational.

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: Thank you for the question, Senator Quinn, and for the work you do in the Senate for our province. You’ve correctly identified this infrastructure project as a national priority. Some months ago, I began a conversation offering a 50% contribution, potentially through a disaster mitigation and adaptation fund at the Department of Infrastructure. It shouldn’t surprise you that the premiers came back and say we’d like 100%.

To your colleague’s question about federal-provincial jurisdictional issues, the provinces don’t hesitate to quickly send a bill to Ottawa. COVID has given them an opportunity to continue to expect the federal government — some of these provinces, by the way, including ours, criticize the Government of Canada for having a deficit, but at the same time they are running surpluses and continue to send us bills. I think we need to have some coherence in how we manage the fiscal realities of the Government of Canada and our provincial and territorial partners. These provincial governments benefit from huge surpluses at a time when the federal government is running multi‑billion-dollar deficits. I think a 50% contribution to what is also a municipal infrastructure challenge for the cities of Sackville, New Brunswick and Amherst, Nova Scotia, I am confident that we can recognize a way to do it.

I replied to the provinces that their example of the Confederation Bridge wasn’t a good one. But senator, I will look further into your declaratory power. I think that is an interesting angle, which I, frankly, hadn’t thought of. I will ask the Department of Justice to help me look into that.

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: Senator Cordy, thank you for the question and your understandable and reasonable concern around those vacancies. As an Atlantic Canadian, I share your view of the importance of our region, but it’s true of other regions. I totally share your analysis of the terms of Confederation and the role that this chamber plays in balancing out an increasing trend in the House in which I sit for the populous provinces and regions. This is an example, senator, where we need to move expeditiously.

As I say, I am confident that in the coming weeks, maybe in the coming days, you will have the good news of some exciting colleagues that will join you here. In conversations that I have had, I’m enthusiastic about the quality of women and men who want to serve with all of you in the Senate who apply through a transparent application process that many of you went through yourselves. My understanding from the officials at the Privy Council Office that run this process is that we’re victims of our own success in some cases, Senator Cordy. In my province, there were dozens and dozens of very qualified people that came forward asking for an opportunity to serve.

We have been slower than we should have been, and need to be, to properly receive the advice of these advisory groups, but the good news is that I think we’re getting near the end of that process, and good news is coming very quickly.

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: Thank you for the question, senator. I appreciate your description of the various versions of a project that has existed only theoretically for several years now. There’s no doubt that the Quebec government’s recently announced decision to move towards a project that is limited to public transit offers potential opportunities for federal funding that would not be so readily available if it were a provincial highway extension.

As you said, no specific project has been presented. The environmental impact needs to be studied. This is a megaproject from a financial standpoint. My colleagues from Quebec City often talk about this in caucus and in cabinet, in the case of Mr. Duclos.

We will wait and see whether a project is ultimately presented, and we will ensure, as you correctly pointed out, that social licence is assessed, both at the municipal level and at the provincial level.

However, I must point out that our collaboration with the Quebec government on these types of projects is very encouraging, whether it is the Quebec City tramway or the pink metro line in Montreal. There has been a great deal of collaboration and a lot of discussion about priorities.

[English]

Hon. Julie Miville-Dechêne: Mr. LeBlanc, you are the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities and therefore Quebec City’s third link project concerns you directly.

The Government of Quebec has just announced that it is abandoning the idea of a road link in favour of a tunnel for public transit only. We still know little about this project: We don’t know the route, the mode of transportation, the volume of traffic or the cost estimates. To be frank, we don’t even know if Coalition avenir Québec is going to move forward on this.

I know it is impossible for you to say whether the federal government will finance this hypothetical project, but could you indicate what criteria will be used by your government? Specifically, how will the issue of social licence be evaluated?

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: I don’t want to pretend that the health agreements that we just negotiated with the provinces are somehow going to be put into the balance as we seek to collaborate with provinces, as I said in response to your colleague, on a way to support some of the most vulnerable people in the country. I obviously took note of what some jurisdictions have done in their own social services envelopes across the country at a time when people very much needed that help.

We remain optimistic. Certainly, my colleague Carla Qualtrough has funding envelopes for training, for example. The Government of Canada transfers billions of dollars to provinces in training money. It’s an active measure. I think it’s largely from the EI account, but that’s one vehicle where we support provincial and territorial governments in workforce development.

There are so many ways we have to collaborate with the provinces. I don’t foresee us finding ourselves in a situation where a provincial government would want to, in a perverse way, diminish this help that I hope the Parliament of Canada will want to extend to these vulnerable people. We’re starting from a positive, optimistic posture, but we’re not naive that we may need the right tools at the right time. I’m encouraged, at least initially, by this desire of the provinces to partner with us, and we’ll try and maintain that goodwill.

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Minister, over the years I’ve asked a number of questions about the Canada Infrastructure Bank. In a Senate Question Period in February, I asked about the secrecy surrounding its mandated five-year review, which you are currently leading. According to documents obtained through Access to Information by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, your review began behind closed doors in June of 2022. Since then, there has been very little information given on the process being followed or about the public engagement undertaken.

Minister, how long was the public consultation period that ended March 31? Did it start on March 13, which was the only date your department tweeted about? If it started earlier, why wasn’t it more widely promoted? As well, will the contracts awarded by the bank to the consulting firm McKinsey & Company be part of your review?

I didn’t receive answers in February, so I’m hoping you will give us answers today. Thank you.

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: Senator Bernard, thank you for a very thoughtful question, the premise of which I share entirely.

Our process has, I hope, encouraged a wide variety of Canadians to think that they can serve honourably in this chamber, including those that represent historically under‑represented communities in this very place. And that’s part of a larger societal effort across the country to be more inclusive and to recognize that institutions evolve and have not always accommodated the kinds of people that we would seek to serve in our country.

Your service is an example, and it should only be the beginning of a greater effort. I totally share the premise of your question. I am confident, as an Acadian myself, that I understand the importance the Acadian community in Nova Scotia having representation in this place. Senator Comeau, whom I liked very much, served honourably and did a great job for the people of Nova Scotia and francophones when he served here. I’m hoping that is the kind of good news that may be coming to this chamber soon.

I also take your comments around other areas where we can encourage a greater representation. I will certainly share those with the Prime Minister. You will understand that we don’t direct the independent advisory groups, other than to set the broad parameters, exactly as you articulated so well, senator.

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: Senator, thank you for the question.

You’re right that the legislated review of the Canada Infrastructure Bank after five years was properly mandated by the legislation that created the bank. It did not mandate a wide public review. It was a review that Infrastructure Canada was to undertake. It is one that, from my regular updates, has been extensive and has included interactions — and I’m going by memory, because I don’t have the notes in front of me, but it was something that we talked about with the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank and the chair very recently.

I will be tabling in Parliament the results of that review by the end of June. I will find for you, senator, the precise dates in terms of when the public consultation began. We have received dozens and dozens of submissions from provincial authorities, municipal authorities and institutional pension funds, for example.

I’m encouraged by what I have been told the uptake has been so far, but I will ensure that you have the precise details of when those windows opened and how people were able to access it. I think within less than two months you will have a very transparent and, I think, thoughtful review based on the information that we have received and that, of course, we would share with parliamentarians and look forward to discussing at the appropriate committees, either of this chamber or in the other house.

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: Thank you for the question, and thank you for your comments about the recreational centre project in Riverview. It was a big priority for my colleague and your friend Ginette Petitpas Taylor. I am glad that was announced a couple of weeks ago.

Your concern around rural access to high-speed internet is absolutely an important one, and it is one that the government shares. You are right; in our province, 20 minutes from Riverview, in Albert County, or even if you head north into Kent County in a different direction from your hometown, there are challenges.

We have invested, as a government, billions of dollars in this space. It’s never enough, and it’s never fast enough. I think we’ve made very considerable improvements, but we have a lot of work to do.

The Canada Infrastructure Bank is also looking at potential investments in that space as well. It may help some of the telcos obtain the financing that might make these projects more expeditious or faster. I share your view, senator, that it is not only about the economic development or the ability of small- and medium-sized businesses in some of these more rural communities to properly operate. There is a public safety component, which COVID showed all of us. I learned more about these challenges in the context of intimate partner violence and vulnerabilities because of COVID, and access to these services has to be part of that. We’ll continue to do all the work that we can and to incent other partners as well. I’m encouraged as well by provinces and territories wanting to occupy this space with us.

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: Thank you, Senator Richards. I had the privilege of being in Miramichi on Friday to announce an exciting infrastructure project — an almost $63 million federal-provincial-municipal project around a recreation centre in that great part of our province.

Thank you for your kind comments about my father.

My wife had the privilege of serving with your sister on the Provincial Court of New Brunswick, and they became good friends. She very much valued her companionship and advice as a senior judge in our province.

I also share your concern and have heard it frequently, not only when I — for two years — was the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, but also subsequently around those predatory threats on the Atlantic salmon population. I’m not a scientist; I totally accept the statement of fact that you have laid out.

I have correspondence directly related to that — which I saw at my office in Shediac on the weekend — from the Miramichi Salmon Association. A friend of mine who sits on the board of the Atlantic Salmon Federation spoke to me about that on Sunday afternoon when I saw him in Moncton.

I will absolutely talk to my colleagues because it’s not only a Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, or DFO, issue — it is a much broader economic, environmental and fisheries management issue for our province. The importance of Atlantic salmon and the experiences that the great, mighty Miramichi River represents to not only Canadians, but also people from around the world, has been significantly impacted.

Let me get back to you with the specific incremental, improved measures around seals and striped bass because I share your view, senator, that this has to be a priority for our government.

[Translation]

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: Thank you for your question. You’re quite right. Bilateral relations between Canada and the various provinces and territories, at certain times and in certain files, can be a vehicle for advancing shared priorities.

I’m fortunate to have very friendly personal relationships with several provincial and territorial premiers including, for example, Ontario’s Premier Ford and Saskatchewan’s Premier Moe. I would say that we’ve become friends as a result of my work with them. This doesn’t mean that these relationships are always easy.

The idea of creating a multilateral forum for the issues you identified so clearly, and that don’t affect just one province in particular, is very interesting. We already hold federal‑provincial-territorial meetings with ministers of infrastructure, the environment, transport, and internal trade, a position I once held. These are opportunities for the federal government and its partners in the federation to meet.

The idea of having a round table with other partners, and not just those representing different levels of government, is very interesting. This forum could include the private sector and NGOs, for example, to fight climate change. I’ll be very pleased to speak to my colleague, Minister Guilbeault, and with other colleagues who have exactly this type of relationship, which is more multilateral than just unidirectional or bidirectional, with the provinces. Thank you for the question.

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Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities: Thank you for that important question, senator. You’re absolutely right. Quite frankly, the lack of core infrastructure in many Indigenous and northern communities, whether it be housing, clean drinking water or access to community infrastructure, continues to surprise Canadians, particularly when they see the difference between the infrastructure in Indigenous communities and that in other communities. In some big cities, it’s also difficult to have infrastructure that is culturally adapted to the needs of the Indigenous communities who live there. However, it is possible to do both at the same time.

I will get back to you with specific details on the investments my department is making in infrastructure. I’m sure you understand that the Department of Indigenous Services also has an important role to play when it comes to infrastructure, whether it be in health care or other areas. My colleague, the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, also has important responsibilities.

I don’t want to minimize my responsibilities or the important investments that we’ve made in many of my department’s programs. You deserve a detailed answer, and I’ll be pleased to give you one. I know that this is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to the work we need to do, but I’m confident in saying that you will soon see the bar being set higher when it comes to investments. That doesn’t mean that we are going to stop, but I will give you more detailed information in that regard.

[English]