Transport committee  Do you mean for the next generation?

Transport committee  Again, this is something government will have to decide in the near future.

Transport committee  Do you mean in the present plan?

Transport committee  Oh, yes, in the current plan we do have categories. Actually the gas tax one is focused on environmental objectives right now, so you're talking about cleaner air, cleaner water, reduced GHG. There are actually six or seven categories, I believe. Those are focused categories.

Transport committee  We go back to the Transport side.

Transport committee  We're all in this.

Transport committee  How long do I have to do that? I'll start by telling you that the good thing about the number of infrastructure programs that we now have is that you learn from every one of them. The economic action plan was very specific. I would say the big difference was the very precise timeline that really did force some action.

Transport committee  I was going to say there were a couple of statements, and I don't want to mislead you, so maybe I could send them back to you. A couple of things were said. If I'm not wrong, it was Minister Flaherty who talked about the banking and the borrowing as something that should be continued, but there wasn't anything about the criteria as such.

Transport committee  We should have actually introduced ourselves. I'm surprised at how many people it takes to replace the two ministers and the deputy. They'll be very happy to know that.

Transport committee  We are really representing two separate departments, Infrastructure Canada and the Department of Transport, so it does make sense. But we're very happy to be here. To answer your question, right now, as you probably know, the flexibility is there to bank and borrow. The next step with the gas tax is actually for the government to decide what the criteria and the terms and conditions are going to be.

Transport committee  The caveat that you have put forward gives any of the transfers that were mentioned—

Transport committee  As was mentioned earlier, the idea with the programs is that when a project doesn't happen, normally the province will come back with another project. We'll have discussions to make sure the money is spent. The intention is to spend every dollar that is left.

Transport committee  As you know, Mr. Coderre, there are a number of programs, the most concrete of which is the gas tax program. An announcement was made that this program will be permanent. We will slowly begin the discussions with the provinces. I say “slowly”, but we will actually have to move very quickly, as the agreements have to be in effect by March 2014.

Transport committee  Yes.

Transport committee  I will ask David Miller to see if he can give you the details. Before I do that, though, the good news is that we do have $156 million planned to spend this year, so I think that's the number that is important. For the details about where, maybe I can transfer to David.