Finance committee  Well, we look at what we're in the process of right now. We know the Building Canada fund is going on until 2014. That's why we're here now, to open the discussion on where we go forward from 2014. What we'd like see, and what I think every municipality across this country would like to see, is some form of long-term infrastructure funding.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On behalf of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, I'd like to thank the committee for allowing us to appear and participate in this year's pre-budget consultation. My name is David Marit and I'm president of the organization, and with me is my good friend and colleague, Ray Orb, our vice-president.

Transport committee  Yes, but is it strictly the city that has that role? In rural, what do I do...?

Transport committee  Yes.

Transport committee  Because I think there's a role for the federal government in this, and I think there's a responsibility for the federal government in this, in servicing transit and its needs. I've lived in rural Saskatchewan all my life. I'm quite capable of driving where I have to go for what I need to do.

Transport committee  Yes, it is.

Transport committee  I think that in the city of Saskatoon it's called Paratransit.

Transport committee  It's probably the city.

Transport committee  Isn't it, though?

Transport committee  I think we're at opportune time to have this discussion. We know that the Building Canada fund comes to its end in 2014, so now we should be sitting down and talking with groups about what we want to see in that strategy and then in that program. Then, if we start looking at long-term infrastructure funding, then what all falls into that envelope?

Transport committee  Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. With regard to the comment on transportation, yes, roads and bridges are very important to us, but we're here today talking on transit, and thank you for that. As for what it is in Saskatchewan, as I said in my statement, in rural Saskatchewan I don't know of a publicly funded para-transit bus, other than the fact that we have STC moving seniors.

Transport committee  It would.I think that's where we have to look at the whole P3 perspective, to some degree, to see where it can work. The private sector will go where there is an opportunity for them to make money. We know that. Unfortunately, when you start talking about rural and remote Canada, you start looking at issues of cost of delivering service.

Transport committee  Yes, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the question. There is something that has to be said here about what is going on with rural transit, which you don't know if you don't live rurally. For the most part, people with special needs or such issues are delivered to wherever they have to go, whether school or whatever, usually by a parent or a guardian.

Transport committee  That's why you folks are in Ottawa: to make those decisions on where the money comes from. If I may, though, I do want to comment on one point you made about P3s. We've found that in rural Canada, and in rural Saskatchewan, P3s to some degree.... I think the federal government has to look at P3 design to make it work better for rural use.

Transport committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think we have to stay with broad-based. I think it's important that we do. Then, within the broad-based program, we have to start to detail it a bit more, whether you get into transit or whether you get into rural infrastructure or other infrastructure.