Tab D: Committee Information

Election to House of Commons

• First elected in 2015. Re-elected in 2019.

Professional Background

• Family business owner
• Mayor for the City of Port Colborne (1997 – 2003, 2006 – 2014)
• City Councillor for the City of Port Colborne (1994 – 1997)

Current Political and Parliamentary Roles

• Chair of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
• Member of the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations

Past Parliamentary Committee Roles

• 42nd Parliament: Member of the TRAN Standing Committee (2016-19)
• 42nd Parliament: Vice-Chair, Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations (2017-19)

Key interventions in the House of Commons of interest to INFC/RED

Voted:

• In January 2020, voted against the Conservative Opposition Motion calling for an audit of the government's "Investing in Canada Plan".

Interests of note:

• Held information sessions in his riding regarding the Smart Cities Challenge.

Election to House of Commons

• First elected in 2017

Professional Background

• Worked in consulting and management positions in the private sector.
• Worked as a Senior Policy Advisor to Minister Peter Kent. Her responsibilities included negotiating free trade deals, work related to the Keystone pipeline project and lobbying the United Nations to place Canada on the Security Council.
• Served as the Executive Director of Common Sense Calgary, a non-profit organization.

Current Political and Parliamentary Roles

• Conservative Party Shadow Minister for Transport
• First Vice-Chair, Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Past Parliamentary Committee Roles

• 43rd Parliament, 1st Session: Vice-Chair, Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (2020)
• 42nd Parliament: Vice-Chair, Procedure and House Affairs (2018-19)
• 42nd Parliament: Member, Status of Women (2018)
• 42nd Parliament: Member, Official Languages (2017-18)

Key interventions in the House of Commons of interest to INFC/RED

Voted:

• In January 2020, voted in support of the Conservative Opposition Motion calling for an audit of the government's "Investing in Canada Plan".

Motions tabled during the October 13th meeting of the TRAN committee:

• That the committee call upon the Minister of Transport and officials to discuss the spending priorities contained in the Main Estimates and that this meeting occur before Friday, November 20, 2020.

Election to the House of Commons

• First elected in 2015. Re-elected in 2019

Professional Background

• President, Bloc Québécois Youth Forum (2011-2015)
• College instructor in accounting and worked for several years as an auditor.

Current Political and Parliamentary Roles

• BQ critic for Infrastructure and Communities
• Second Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Past Parliamentary Committee Roles

• 43rd Parliament, 1st Session: Second  Vice-Chair of the TRAN Standing Committee (2020)

Key interventions in the House of Commons of interest to INFC/RED

Voted:

• In January 2020, voted in support of the Conservative Opposition Motion calling for an audit of the government's "Investing in Canada Plan".
• During the debate expressed concern that few at the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) speak French and that few in the Infrastructure Minister's office speak French.

Motions tabled during the October 13th meeting of the TRAN committee:

• That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on government policies and measures in place with respect to transportation electrification and proposals for improvements; and that the Committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.

Election to the House of Commons

• First elected in 2019

Professional Background

• Mayor of Smithers, BC (2011- 2019)
• Municipal Councillor, Telkwa, BC (2008-2011)
• Small business owner; Bachrach Communications
• Previously, Chair of the BC Municipal Climate Leadership Council
• Previously member of BC government's Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council and Northern Development Initiative Trust

Current Political and Parliamentary Roles

• NDP critic for Infrastructure and Communities
• Member of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Past Parliamentary Committee Roles

• 43rd Parliament, 1st Session: Member of the TRAN Standing Committee (2020)

Key interventions in the House of Commons of interest to INFC/RED

Voted:

• In January 2020, voted in support of the Conservative Opposition Motion calling for an audit of the government's "Investing in Canada Plan".
  • During debate on the motion, Mr. Bachrach stated that he supported "the government's focus on infrastructure investment. When it is done properly, investing in public infrastructure creates jobs, makes life in our communities more enjoyable and helps combat climate change".

Motions tabled during the October 13th meeting of the TRAN committee:

• That the committee commit to undertake a study related to the mandate and activities of the Canada Infrastructure Bank including a review of the projects that the Bank has supported and possible alternate mechanisms for funding for comparable projects and that no fewer than four meetings be set aside for this study.
• That the committee commit to undertake a study related to implementation and effectiveness of the climate lens requirement to Investing in Canada's Infrastructure programs, its disaster mitigation and adaptation funds and its smart cities challenge and that no fewer than four meetings be set aside for this study.
• That the committee commit to undertake a study related to the implementation and effectiveness of Government of Canada's programs to support high speed internet and cell infrastructure in rural remote and northern communities and that no fewer than four meetings be set aside for this study.

Question Period:

• The government has promised high speed Internet for all people in Canada, but with so little progress to date, how can rural residents trust that it is serious? (Sep. 29, 2020).

Order Paper Questions (43rd Parliament, 2nd Session)

• Q-69 — September 28, 2020 — With regard to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, since March 22, 2016: (a) what is the complete list of infrastructure projects that have undergone a Climate Lens assessment, broken down by stream; and (b) for each project in (a), what are the details, including (i) amount of federal financing, (ii) location of the project, (iii) a brief description of the project, (iv) whether the project included a Climate Change Resilience Assessment, (v) whether the project included a Climate Change Green House Gas Mitigation Assessment, (vi) if a project included a Climate Change Resilience Assessment, a summary of the risk management findings of the assessment, (vii) if a project included a Climate Change Green House Gas Mitigation Assessment, the increase or reduction in emissions calculated in the assessment?

Election to House of Commons

• Elected in 2015, re-elected 2019.

Professional Background

• Lawyer (civil litigator); Brooks and Welch LLP
• Seminar leader at Brock University
• Instructor, Continuing Education, Niagara College
• Volunteered at the Quest Community Health Centre and with the Courts in the Classroom program

Current Political and Parliamentary Roles

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
• Member of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Past Parliamentary Committee Roles

• Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (2017-19)
• 42nd Parliament: Member, Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (2016-17)
• 42nd Parliament: Member, Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (2017-19)

Key interventions in the House of Commons of interest to INFC/RED

Voted:

• In January 2020, voted against the Conservative Opposition Motion calling for an audit of the government's "Investing in Canada Plan".

Election to the House of Commons

• Elected in 2015, re-elected in 2019

Professional Background

• Engineer
• Business owner (residential construction)
• Business relations consultant (2005-2015)

Current Political and Parliamentary Roles

• Member of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
• Member of the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations

Past Parliamentary Committee Roles

• 43rd Parliament, 1st Session: Member of the TRAN Standing Committee (2020)
• 43rd Parliament, 1st Session: Member, Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations (2020)
• 42nd Parliament: Member, Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations (2016-19)

Key interventions in the House of Commons of interest to INFC/RED

Voted:

• In January 2020, voted against the Conservative Opposition Motion calling for an audit of the government's "Investing in Canada Plan".

Motions tabled during the October 13th meeting of the TRAN committee:

• That the Committee commit to undertaking a study on the industrial capacity of the construction sector in order to determine how much investment can be made in the Canadian economy each year to ensure full employment in the construction sector and related supply chains, how to obtain maximum performance of these investments and how to do so without causing unwarranted inflation in project costs; and that, the study examine the potential of current training programs and commitments from all levels of government to boost capacity.

Election to the House of Commons

• First elected in 2019

Professional Background

• Minister of Community and Social Services (2014-2018) in the Ontario legislature
• Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario) from 2007 to 2018
• Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (2018)
• Former public servant (Privy Council Office)
• General practitioner at the Women's College Hospital in Toronto
• Chief Medical Officer of Health in the York region (18 years)

Current Political and Parliamentary Roles

• Member of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
• Member of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU)

Past Parliamentary Committee Roles

• 43rd Parliament, 1st Session: Member of the TRAN Standing Committee (2020)
• 43rd Parliament, 1st Session: Member of the INDU Standing Committee (2020)

Key interventions in the House of Commons of interest to INFC/RED

Voted:

• In January 2020, voted against the Conservative Opposition Motion calling for an audit of the government's "Investing in Canada Plan"

Motions tabled during the October 13th meeting of the TRAN committee:

• That the committee undertake a study on the ability of targeted infrastructure investment to influence social economic and environmental outcomes and improve the lives of Canadians and underserve in vulnerable communities; that the committee examine the socio-economic profile of where infrastructure funding has flowed historically, and that the committee study the best practices in Canada and abroad for ensuring infrastructure investments reach communities most in need.

Election to the House of Commons

• First elected in 2019.

Professional Background

• Worked in the information technology sector.
• Worked in the private sector in Calgary in the late 1990's and for the Department of National Defence in Ottawa in the early 2000's.
• Developed software solutions for a mix of private-sector and government entities.

Current Political and Parliamentary Roles

• Member, Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Past Parliamentary Committee Roles

• 43rd Parliament, 1st Session: Member, International Trade (2020)
• Deputy Critic, Deputy Export Promotion & International Trade (2019-20)

Points of interest to INFC/RED

Voted:

• In January 2020, voted in support of the Conservative Opposition Motion calling for an audit of the government's "Investing in Canada Plan".

Private Members’ Business:

• Private Members' Motion M-42 — September 23, 2020 — That, in the opinion of the House, the Government of Canada should take immediate action to initiate negotiations for a free trade agreement with the Government of the United Kingdom.

Election to the House of Commons

• Elected in 2017 (By-election), re-elected in 2019

Professional Background

• Mayor of Centreville-Wareham-Trinity (2009 – 2017)
• Mayor of Harbour Breton (1997-2003)
• President of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (2011 – 2015)
• Member of the national Board of Directors for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities; and Chair of the Atlantic Caucus

Current Political and Parliamentary Roles

• Member, Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Past Parliamentary Committee Roles

• 43rd Parliament, 1st Session: Member of the TRAN Standing Committee (2020)
• 43rd Parliament, 1st Session: Member, Procedure and House Affairs  (2019-20
• 42nd Parliament: Member of the TRAN Standing Committee (2018-19)
• 42nd Parliament: Member of the Fisheries and Oceans Committee (2018-19)
• 42nd Parliament: Member, Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (2018)
• 42nd Parliament: Member, Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Regulations (2018)

Points of interest to INFC/RED

Voted:

• In January 2020, voted against the Conservative Opposition Motion calling for an audit of the government's "Investing in Canada Plan".

Interests of Note:

• Advocate for Canada's rural and coastal communities

Motion tabled during the October 13th meeting of the TRAN committee:

• That the committee commit to undertake a study focusing on the roles that innovative technology such as drones or the latest generation of airships can play in delivering cargo to northern and remote communities that are challenging to service using existing transportation infrastructure, and that in consultation with committee members, the chair be empowered to coordinate the resources and scheduling necessary to execute these studies in six meetings or fewer.

Motion tabled during the March 12, 2020 meeting of the TRAN committee:

• That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a) the committee commit to undertake a study on the Gax Tax Fund and examine this 10-year old agreement with municipalities that expires in 2024. The committee would examine whether the existing funding streams under the program are adequate, should be expanded, or provided with a sharper focus. The committee also will study how the Gas Tax Fund applies to Indigenous communities and whether that coverage is adequate (adopted by committee).

Motions tabled during the February 20, 2020 meeting of the TRAN committee:

• That the Committee commit to undertake a study on the Gas Tax Fund. And that, in consultation with the Committee Members, the Chair be empowered to coordinate the resources and scheduling necessary to execute these studies in 6 meetings or fewer.
• That the Committee commit to undertake a study focusing on how can the Investing in Canada program best be used to advance green innovation, for example creating jobs and reducing GHG emissions by expanding the climate lens to cover all Government of Canada infrastructure investments all while making investments in communities to ensure their long term success and resiliency. The study would also look to identify how we can expand the climate-lens for infrastructure projects. And that, in consultation with the Committee Members, the Chair be empowered to coordinate the resources and scheduling necessary to execute these studies in 6 meetings or fewer.
• That the Committee commit to undertake a review and provide recommendations on how the Government of Canada can electrify public transportation across the country. Review other international jurisdictions, municipalities, provinces and provide best practices. And that, in consultation with Committee Members, the Chair be empowered to coordinate the resources and scheduling necessary to execute these studies in 6 meetings or fewer.
• That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities undertake a study focusing on economic development in rural Canada; that the study review tax credits and other incentives for promoting growth in rural economies; that the study examine the infrastructure needs required to grow and diversify rural economies; that the study seek to identify how the Government can take a systematic approach to ensuring federal investments are attentive to rural needs and realities; that the Committee report its findings to the House; and that the Committee request a government response to its report. And that, in consultation with the Committee Members, the Chair be empowered to coordinate the resources and scheduling necessary to execute these studies in 6 meetings or fewer.

Election to the House of Commons

• First elected in 2019

Professional Background

• Elected to Barrie city council for Ward 3 in 2010
• While serving as a city Councillor was the Chair of Finance and Corporate Services Committee, Chair of Infrastructure, Investment and Development Services Committee, Vice Chair Barrie Police Services Board and Barrie and Area Physician Recruitment Task Force
• Owned and operated his own small business for the last 20 years

Current Political and Parliamentary Roles

• Member, Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Past Parliamentary Committee Roles

• 43rd Parliament, 1ST Session: Member, Public Safety and National Security (2020)
• Conservative Party Deputy Critic for Infrastructure and Communities (2019-20)

Points of interest to INFC/RED

Voted:

• In January 2020, voted in support of the Conservative Opposition Motion calling for an audit of the government's "Investing in Canada Plan".

Election to the House of Commons

• Elected in 2019

Professional Background

• Owner of a customs brokerage business
• Founder of the Kindness Movement Charity, which assists underprivileged school children in India and in Canada.

Current Political and Parliamentary Roles

• Member, Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
• Member, Standing Committee on Natural Resources

Past Parliamentary Committee Roles

• 43rd Parliament, 1st Session: Member of the TRAN Standing Committee (2020)
• 43rd Parliament, 1st Session: Member of the Natural Resources Committee (2020)
• 43rd Parliament, 1st Session: Member of the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2020)

Points of interest to INFC/RED

Voted:

• In January 2020, voted against the Conservative Opposition Motion calling for an audit of the government's "Investing in Canada Plan".

Motion tabled during the October 13th meeting of the TRAN committee:

• That the committee undertake a study focusing on current and anticipated labour shortages in the Canadian transportation sector, for example, truck drivers, mariners, maintenance staff, trainers, instructors and various types of engineers and technicians in the aviation sector. The study would identify the implications of such shortages and look at possible solutions to alleviate problems stemming from them; and that in consultation with the committee members the chair be empowered to coordinate the resources and scheduling necessary to execute this study in six meetings or fewer.

Election to the House of Commons

• Elected in 2019

Professional Background

• Comes from a long line of farmers and has farmed for the majority of his life where his grandparents homesteaded in the 1930s
• Formerly Vice- President and President of West Central Forage as well as Vice-President of the Alberta Forage Council
• Served as a Division one Councillor and Mayor of Yellowhead County before making the jump to federal politics.
• During his time as Mayor, he was also elected as Vice President of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (Now RMA) from 2008 to 2010.

Current Political and Parliamentary Roles

• Member, Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Past Parliamentry Committee Roles

• 43 Parliament, 2nd Session: Member, Agriculture and Agri-Food (2020)

Points of interest to INFC/RED

Voted:

• In January 2020, voted in support of the Conservative Opposition Motion calling for an audit of the government's "Investing in Canada Plan".

Members' Statements (SO 31):

• In my riding, many constituents are not able to get Internet service and for those who have Internet, some cannot afford it. Internet is not a luxury; it is an essential service for everyday life. … I urge the government to make Internet more accessible, reliable and affordable for all Canadians. (Oct. 9, 2020)