David Coon, MLA/Député

This is the preliminary Hansard transcript of the Question Period, recorded in the language it was originally spoken.

Mr. Coon: The federal budget that was released recently has allocated money to support public transit in New Brunswick, which is great news. This is a good step forward, and I am sure that the cities around the province are eager to understand how they can apply that to improve their transit systems. There is, however, a problem with the formula that allocated that money across Canada, basing it on ridership alone and not considering need. Our transit systems in New Brunswick are not as well developed as in other provinces, meaning that our share of the fund is really inadequate to the task at hand. Nova Scotia, for example, will receive over $32 million to invest in its public transit system, while, in New Brunswick, we will see $8.7 million. It is a good start, but it is not up to the task. Will the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure meet with his federal counterpart to ask
that he recognize the unfairness in the funding formula and adjust that funding formula based on our need to improve public transit in New Brunswick?

L’hon. M. Melanson : Cela me fait plaisir de me lever à la Chambre ce matin pour répondre à la question du député du troisième parti. Je veux le rassurer et lui dire que j’ai déjà eu des discussions avec le ministre Sohi, qui est responsable du Programme Infrastructure Canada. Nous avons aussi soulevé la question lorsque nous avons eu la rencontre des ministres responsables des transports et de l’infrastructure, en février, à Ottawa. Parmi nos demandes, au Nouveau-Brunswick, il y a certainement celle d’avoir plus de flexibilité en ce qui a trait aux investissements dans les différentes infrastructures du gouvernement fédéral, en partenariat avec les provinces et les municipalités. Le premier ministre Gallant a lui aussi dit à plusieurs reprises que nous voulions davantage de
flexibilité. Je veux assurer le député de l’opposition que nous avons eu cette discussion et qu’une chose est certaine : Lorsqu’il s’agit d’un programme national, cela devient beaucoup plus complexe, car il renferme tous les éléments flexibles que chacune des provinces ou même des collectivités voudraient obtenir. Cependant, nous avons déjà eu la discussion et nous sommes en train d’aborder la situation.

Mr. Coon: Prime Minister Trudeau and his government have chosen to invest heavily in public transit because they understand the value that it brings to the economy and to our society. Investments in public transit create good, clean jobs while providing mobility for disadvantaged populations and offering alternatives to driving. A population that can move more easily between homes, workplaces, grocery stores, and the hospital is a stronger, healthier population. Given all of this, could the minister tell us how he intends to spend the public transit dollars that New Brunswick will be receiving?

L’hon. M. Melanson : Pour revenir à la question du chef du Parti vert, je veux l’assurer que c’est un enjeu qui nous intéresse beaucoup, étant donné que nous voulons maximiser les investissements en matière d’infrastructures par le gouvernement fédéral, en partenariat avec la province et les différentes collectivités ici, au Nouveau-Brunswick. Je veux aussi souligner le fait que, avant sa carrière en politique, le ministre fédéral Sohi était
non seulement un élu municipal mais aussi un chauffeur d’autobus municipal. Par conséquent, il connaît très bien le domaine du transport en commun, et c’est certainement un secteur qu’il favorise fortement. Il voudrait même voir davantage d’investissements en matière de technologie afin d’établir un service de transport en commun beaucoup plus efficace et innovateur. Alors, ce dialogue se continue, et nous sommes à la table et à l’écoute pour discuter du dossier. Lorsque j’aurai plus de détails, cela me fera plaisir de les partager avec vous.

Mr. Coon: I am sure that the mayors of New Brunswick cities are eager to learn what support they can expect for their transit systems. I know that cities with transit systems and MLAs in those cities, including Fredericton in my own riding, hear about a wish for a better, more convenient transit system from their constituents. The question for the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure is this: When does he plan to call a meeting of city mayors to discuss rolling out these funds?

Hon. Mr. Melanson: I meet regularly with the different municipal associations. There have been ongoing conversations on many different files. Certainly, infrastructure is a big issue for the municipalities and for us. We see the level of investment that is going to be coming nationally, and we are certainly working very hard to get the maximum for our province from the federal government. Municipalities will certainly be part of those investments. The mayors of different municipalities certainly have public transit on their radars, but they also have other demands for infrastructure dollars. I know that the municipalities are looking to have good drinking water infrastructure and municipal recreation infrastructure. We are discussing the full magnitude of what the municipalities need, and we are certainly trying to find a way to fund this, in partnership.