‘We do build roads,’ Fraser says as Guilbeault set to face questions on remarks

Housing and Infrastructure Minister Sean Fraser stressed on Thursday that Ottawa does "build roads" given controversial remarks made by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.

Housing and Infrastructure Minister Sean Fraser stressed on Thursday that Ottawa does “build roads,” following controversial remarks made by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.

Fraser told MPs on the House of Commons transport committee that there hasn’t been a change in government position, despite Guilbeault saying on Feb. 12 that Ottawa would “stop investing in new road infrastructure. He would later clarify his remarks after criticism.

“I can reassure you: We maintain support for road building and that there hasn’t been a policy change,” Fraser said. “It’s important to me … that we can demonstrate when people have concerns about whether we build roads, that we do build roads.”

Fraser was speaking to MPs ahead of Guilbeault, who is scheduled to do so at Noon Eastern. Transportation Minister Pablo Rodriguez also made an appearance.

The issue stems from quotes published in the Montreal Gazette last month. Guilbeault told a crowd in the city on Feb. 12 that Ottawa won’t be funding any projects that “enlarge the road network.”

“The analysis we have done is that the network is perfectly adequate to respond to the needs we have,” he said.

Two days later in the nation’s capital, Guilbeault said “of course we’re funding roads.”

“We have programs to fund roads, but we have said — and maybe I should have been more specific in the past — is that we don’t have funds for large projects like the Trosième lien,” he said on Feb. 14.