Senators demanded answers about important infrastructure projects in their home provinces when Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Amarjeet Sohi, appeared in the Red Chamber for Question Period earlier this month.

“What relief is your government proposing on the current $46-per-trip toll that [Prince Edward] Islanders have to pay on Confederation Bridge?” Senator Percy Downe asked.

Senator Carolyn Stewart Olsen said she hoped the minister would support upgrading a New Brunswick wastewater treatment centre to show government promises “are more than just smoke and mirrors.”

Government cabinet ministers have been making regular appearances at the Red Chamber’s Question Period so Senators — and Canadians — can get straight answers from politicians away from the pandemonium of the House of Commons.

“This is a very special moment for me to be among you,” Sohi told the Senators.

“I do want to acknowledge that the work being done in this house by Honourable Senators really strengthens the delivery of the of the infrastructure commitments that we have made.”

Faced with a barrage of technical questions, Sohi responded in kind.

He told Senator Downe that the government is limited an agreement with the private company that operates the bridge linking P.E.I. to New Brunswick and he told Senator Stewart Olsen that water and wastewater infrastructure projects are slated to get $2 billion over the next three years.

Senator Paul McIntyre expressed concern that a planned infrastructure bank could put taxpayers at risk if pricey projects experience cost overruns.

“How will you justify the huge cost to Canadian taxpayers?” Senator McIntyre asked.

Sohi said the answer would be forthcoming.

“We need to tread very carefully,” Sohi acknowledged. “We want to make sure that if we take that path, we are mitigating the risks that you have identified.”