Honourable senators, I wanted to follow up on the question on the Champlain Bridge. It's an important piece of infrastructure that obviously has to be replaced and all Canadians support that.

Of course, one of the concerns is the cost to the Canadian taxpayers, which will be subsidized by all of us because there will be no toll on that bridge, unlike the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island. I also understand the new Gordie Howe Bridge connecting Windsor to Detroit, which is also going to be paid for by the federal government, will have a toll. We'll have two bridges with a toll and one without a toll.

Could Senator Harder follow up with the comments the Prime Minister made at a town hall meeting in Ontario earlier this year where he indicated that the Confederation Bridge was a very expensive bridge to cross and he would be meeting with the local members of Parliament to see what could be done on that costing? Islanders were expecting something in the budget and it was silent so we look forward with anticipation to the Prime Minister's announcement.

Hon. Peter Harder (Government Representative in the Senate): I thank the honourable senator for his ongoing interest in this matter and his questioning of both me in my role, and ministers when they have appeared here. I would be happy to follow up as he has requested.