David Coon, MLA/Député

Voici le vidéo et la transcription pour les questions orales, enregistrée dans la langue utilisée.

M. Coon : Ma question s’adresse au ministre des Transports et de l’Infrastructure. Posséder une voiture n’est pas une possibilité pour plusieurs personnes du Nouveau-Brunswick. Si vous ne pouvez pas vous permettre d’en acheter une, se déplacer pour aller voir le médecin, pour aller au travail ou même pour rendre visite à sa famille peut être un vrai défi.Les transports en commun sont des services publics essentiels. Le gouvernement fédéral s’est engagé à investir 20 milliards de dollars dans l’amélioration des transports en commun au cours des 11 prochaines années. Voici ma question : Le ministre a-t-il reçu du premier ministre le mandat de négocier des fonds en vue de fournir aux gens du Nouveau-Brunswick des services de transport publics efficaces?

Hon. Mr. Fraser: I want to thank the member opposite for a very valid question and a very legitimate question. I am very pleased to stand to say that we value what he does. Public transit is very important. What I can say is that I have had many meetings with Minister Sohi, the federal Minister of Infrastructure in regard to transit infrastructure. In fact, I was very proud to be part of many announcements last year when we invested in transit in Miramichi, we invested in transit in Fredericton, and we invested in transit in Saint John as well. With respect to the new infrastructure dollars that are in place, those details are still being worked out, but I am very confident that we will have more infrastructure dollars that we can spend to keep developing transit here in our province because it is the right thing to do.

Mr. Coon: Part of the solution is certainly rail. I was glad to hear that the minister had met with VIA Rail President and CEO Yves Desjardins-Siciliano in early March. The federal government has budgeted $867 million for VIA Rail over the next three years, so this is a real opportunity for New Brunswick to revive rail as a public transportation option for New Brunswickers. Can the minister tell the House about the results of that meeting?

Hon. Mr. Fraser: Another very legitimate question, and I commend the member opposite for bringing those types of questions to the House because they are important to New Brunswickers.

(Interjections.)

Mr. Speaker: Order.

Hon. Mr. Fraser: I would be very happy to update the member opposite. I might not be able to
do it in a minute. I have had several meetings with Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, the President of VIA Rail.

(Interjections.)