1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: Brought to you by Bank of America. Merrill Lynch. Seeing 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: what others have seen, but uncovering what others may not. 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: Global Research that helps you harness disruption voted top global 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: research from five years running. Meryll Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and 5 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:17,119 Speaker 1: Smith Incorporated. Actually it's a very interesting discussion. We could 6 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: go on and on and on with that. I mean, 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: if you want to have me on your show weekly on, 8 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: I'll be happy to be your Canadian contributor. Well do 9 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: at the infecast. Hi, and welcome back to Bloomberg Benchmark, 10 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: a show about the global economy. It's Thursday, December eight. 11 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: I'm Kate Smith and editor for Bloomberg News in New York. 12 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: And I'm Scott Landman and economics editor with Bloomberg in Washington. 13 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: D Suit Scott, how are you all right? How's it going? Kate? Well, 14 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: I have to say I am kind of regret I'm 15 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: not regretting, I'm dreading. My ride home. The subway that 16 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: I take to get home is like you remember the 17 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: pictures that they showed like post Sandy, of all the 18 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: people's shoulder to shoulder in the subway. Well, it's like that, 19 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: but somehow that's just like my day to day life 20 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: every day in New York. But I've heard that it's 21 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: even worse a d C. Well, you should be happy 22 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: that you get a ride home at all, because in 23 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: d C there are days when the trains aren't even 24 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: running or they're shutting down large sections of track. I mean, 25 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: we don't really have the problem with overcrowding anymore because 26 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: ridership has fallen significantly. But that's incredible. I didn't realize 27 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: that I would like to have your problem. I'd rather 28 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: have that than there not running. Do you sound like 29 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,479 Speaker 1: the lesser of two evils though? Yeah, Well, I think 30 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: what you and I experienced that is obviously pretty reminiscent 31 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:42,839 Speaker 1: of what a lot of people experience in the US. 32 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: And that's kind of just dealing with the failing infrastructure 33 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: problem that you have here in America. UM, I don't 34 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: know if you're familiar with the American Society of Civil Engineers, 35 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: but they gave the U S a D plus um 36 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: when ranking our country's infrastructure. And that's like, you know, 37 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 1: in an academic scale, So you can't get that much worse. 38 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: You could get an F. You could get an F. 39 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: So we don't have an F we have a D plus. 40 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: Does that even count just passing? Though I don't think 41 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: in some places it doesn't, some it doesn't, Okay, So 42 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 1: maybe passing depending where we are. And they also estimated 43 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: to bring us to like a current, so I guess, 44 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,679 Speaker 1: like you know, an a perhaps it would take three 45 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:25,959 Speaker 1: point six trillion dollars by you talked about those numbers, 46 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:31,519 Speaker 1: and it's probably why Donald Trump's promised to repair UH 47 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: infrastructure in the US resonated with voters. You know, it's 48 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: impossible to know exactly what he's going to do to 49 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: fulfill that promise because so you know, a few different 50 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: proposals have been bandied about. One thing that his nominee 51 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: for Treasury secretary mentioned was doing an infrastructure bank. It's 52 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,800 Speaker 1: actually an idea that the campaign criticized. So we don't 53 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 1: really know what's going to happen, but UH an infrastructure 54 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: bank is something that our neighbors to the north have 55 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: announced that they wanted to implement, and that that came 56 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: just recently in what they call the fall Economic Statement. 57 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 1: So to tell us a little bit more about what 58 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 1: we have in Canada, we have the Canadian Parliamentary Secretary 59 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: to the Federal Minister of Finance, Francois Philippe Champagne. He's 60 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: joining us over the phone. Francois Philippe is a liberal 61 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: politician and he represents the writing of Scott. Please try 62 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:31,640 Speaker 1: not to laugh at me, Saint Maurice, I was sound 63 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: super about, Oh, you are far too kind. You truly 64 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: are a politician. So France of Philip, thank you so 65 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: much for joining us. It's a pleasure. It's a pleasure 66 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: I was listening to you, and yes, indeed, I mean 67 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: that's the thing you're talking about, you know, public infrastructure 68 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: and public transit in particular. It's a challenge you find 69 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: in the number of capital around the world. And indeed, 70 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: Canada tried to as you were saying in the fall 71 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: autonomic statement, we we set the Canadians how we're going 72 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: to do it, and um you may have seen we're 73 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: going to invest hundred eighty six billion dollar UH in infrastructure. 74 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:10,559 Speaker 1: So that's an historic amount because we realized that Canadians 75 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 1: have asked us to to obviously help them and their 76 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: families and grow the economy. So as part of our 77 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: inclusive growth model, within a number of things for Canadians, 78 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: reducing taxes and investing in families. But on the growth side, 79 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,919 Speaker 1: we decided to invest, as you could see, massively infrastructure, 80 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 1: not only in public transit, but also in green infrastructure, 81 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: in trade corridors, in rural and infrastructure. And I'm quite 82 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 1: happy to be talking to you about that because I 83 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: think this is going to be transformational for Canada. Well, 84 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: i'm happy that you're here to tell us about it. 85 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: So the United States, obviously, I'm sure you've heard friendship. Um, 86 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 1: we're like notoriously outdated for our infrastructure. We had nearly 87 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: ten years ago. I think it was the Mississippi River 88 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 1: bridge clap in Minneapolis that killed thirteen people and injured 89 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: a hundred and thirty four. Um. Here in the Northeast, 90 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 1: do you have the am truck train that a lot 91 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: of people complain about, especially those who travel from DC 92 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: to New York. Um, Scott, I'm sure you've had to 93 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: deal with that before. Um, the campaign trail, the Guardian 94 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: Airport comes up as the as the Third World country 95 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:14,919 Speaker 1: esque airport that we have here in New York. But 96 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: you know, we know, we know all about how bad 97 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: the US is, but trans maybe you can give us 98 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: kind of an account of what it's like in Canada, 99 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: what what's the reputation for infrastructure where you are, Well, 100 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: clearly you know what we're finding in some of our cities, 101 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: and you would find the same thing in the United States. 102 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 1: We realized that the fact that people cannot transit easily 103 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: in city as a social cost and economic costs. So 104 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 1: that's why as part of the hundred d six billion 105 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: Canadian we said would be investing over twelve years, we 106 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 1: put aside twenty five point three billion for public transit 107 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: because we realized there's a cost. You know, we want 108 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 1: people to be able to transit in the city faster, 109 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: That gives them more time with their family, more time 110 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 1: to start a business, and so there's a social cost, 111 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,280 Speaker 1: economic costs, and we realized that in sort any we 112 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: wanted to act because we we heard that from Canadian 113 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: Then there was the green infrastructure piece. We're putting more 114 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: than twenty two billion in that this is really about 115 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 1: clean water, clean hair because um, not just in Canada, 116 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: but I think you'd find throughout North America there's probably 117 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: been an under investment in terms of these type of infrastructure, 118 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: and we needed to continue to invest in and make 119 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: sure that people UM in Canada in particularly want to 120 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 1: see these green infrastructure being built. And then you have 121 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 1: the social infrastructure, which is really about social housing. Um 122 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: you mavered, We're gonna put around twenty two billion in 123 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 1: that because this is really something throughout cities but also 124 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: rural communities. Socializing is becoming an issue if you want 125 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: people to be fully engaged in the economy before the 126 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,239 Speaker 1: engage in society, they have to be able to properly 127 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: house themselves. And then the last piece and is really 128 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: about the trade corridor, and that probably would be interesting 129 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: for the US. So we said we point a found 130 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,040 Speaker 1: a ten billion to make sure that our goods can 131 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: transit faster to our ports. Our airports are bridges mainly 132 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 1: to the United States, in order to facilitate commerce because 133 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: as you know, we don't need to remind people, but 134 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: you know, we have about two billion of trade going 135 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: on every day between Canada and the United States. You 136 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: have about two thirds of the States and the United 137 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: States who have Canada as their major export partners. So 138 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: we want to facilitate commerce. We want to keep building 139 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: on that extremely good relationship we have UM and making 140 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: sure our trade corridors are very efficient and the last 141 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: piece of fade to to the people listening to us 142 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: is we put a fight two billion for our rural 143 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 1: and northern communities, understanding probably just like in the US, 144 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: that they have very particular need to make sure that 145 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: we cover these people as well with a very specific 146 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: program of investment. Now, now let's let's talk about what 147 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: Kate was saying about. You know, the US infrastructure getting 148 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 1: a D plus from the Society of Civil Engineers. When 149 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: when you look at the condition of Canada's airports, roads, bridges, 150 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: is water infrastructure things like that, what kind of reading 151 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: would you give it on a scale of one to 152 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: ten when you would say, like ten is in excellent 153 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: condition and one is uh, you know, you're you're falling apart, 154 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 1: like lookwart here, Well, I would say, you know, just 155 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 1: like in the US, if you look across the nation, 156 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: I think that the answer could be different depending on 157 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 1: if you go if you look north, if you look east, west, 158 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 1: or in the middle of the country. But suffice to 159 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: say that what we've seen in Canada and it may 160 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: be true another we city country. Particularly over the last 161 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 1: ten years, there's been an under investment not only a 162 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: new bill, but also in maintenance so obviously when we 163 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 1: entered government UM with the Prime Minister, true though, we 164 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 1: found ourselves in a situation where we need to invest 165 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: massively in our infrastructure. This is also good for the 166 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: economy because we said to Canadians that we want to 167 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 1: have inclusive growth, we want to grow the economy, and 168 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: clearly infrastructure investments give the right way to do because 169 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: that touches about every on UM in our country. When 170 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 1: you look at these different infrastructure you mentioned, everyone's going 171 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 1: to benefit. And you know, I would say confident nations 172 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: to the invest in their people and in their economy. 173 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 1: And one of the things that we've announced in the 174 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: Falltonomic statement was one thing we wanted to create and 175 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: we're gonna set up is an infrastructure Bank. The reason 176 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: for that is for us to be able to do 177 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 1: more and faster. This is going to be one more 178 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 1: tool in our toolbox because we understand that UM we 179 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 1: want to attract global investment, global capital UM. I was 180 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: just at the APEX Finance Minister's summit in li Mont, 181 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:40,440 Speaker 1: Peru recently, and when I was talking about the Canadian 182 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: way in terms of infrastructure investment, you see there's a 183 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: number of nation and global investments that would like to 184 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:50,559 Speaker 1: invest in countries like Canada where you have stability, predictability, 185 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: rule of law, very stable banking system, and we think 186 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:59,079 Speaker 1: that the Infrastructure Bank is gonna be allowing us to 187 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:01,599 Speaker 1: get the leverage we want in order to attract this 188 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: type of global investment to help us build faster and 189 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: more um with the time skill that we've given Canadians 190 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: to deliver. So, first off, Philip, we have a we 191 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: have an ad we're going to break for, but when 192 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: we come back, I want to hear exactly how an 193 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 1: infrastructure bank works for our those listeners who aren't policy 194 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: wanks like us. Definitely be a pleasure brought to you 195 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 1: by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Seeing what others have seen, 196 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 1: but uncovering what others may not. Global research that helps 197 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: you harness disruption voted top global research from five years running. 198 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated. Welcome back. Okay, So, 199 00:10:56,679 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: first of Philip, let's take a step back here, how 200 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: exactly use of our listeners. I know how an infrastructure 201 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: bank works. It's actually this tool that they use in 202 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: the world of municipal bonds here in the US. But 203 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: can you help our listeners who aren't perhaps familiar with 204 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: kind of the basics of how an infrastructure bank works. Yeah, 205 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: I mean, let me tell you why we did that 206 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: in Canada. May If you look at traditional funding model, 207 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 1: if you have a project of five millions in Canada, 208 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 1: you would normally have fundings which would be wandered federal, 209 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: wandered provincial, and one through municipal. Now with the infrastructure Bank, 210 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: we think we can get the leverage to four to five. 211 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:34,200 Speaker 1: So with the same five million project, we think we 212 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 1: can raise private capital to the extent of about four million, 213 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: and then the federal government would put one third, the 214 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 1: municipal would put one third, and preventional would put one third. 215 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: So what I was thinking is that it allows us 216 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: to do more and faster. So why are we creating 217 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: that first is to obviously attract global investment to help 218 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: us to do more and faster. And the reason why 219 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 1: you want to have a structure, and like I said, 220 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: other nations you mentioned it a that' um I know 221 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 1: of the Australian model for example, but for us, it's 222 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: really about making sure that we pull the expertise we 223 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: would have in this country to make sure that we 224 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:14,679 Speaker 1: have all the experts in one place. Um. The second 225 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 1: thing is that we can have projects that could be 226 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 1: finance uh, so that you need to package these projects 227 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: into something that you can attract global investments. And the 228 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: third thing is that you want to have a pipeline 229 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: of projects. So when you have global investors who are 230 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 1: looking to invest, for example, in Canada infrastructure, typically these 231 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,200 Speaker 1: people would want to see what kind of projects you have, 232 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 1: what kind of pipeline of projects you have? Are they 233 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: in green infrastructure, are they in public transit? Are they 234 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 1: in wastewater and water. So by having one structure, you 235 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 1: actually pull the expertise. You make sure that you have 236 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: bankable projects. You make sure that you have a pipeline 237 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:54,680 Speaker 1: of projects. So when you want to go to the 238 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: global markets, you have indeed a place where global investor 239 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: and can can call and see what type of investment 240 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: if they want to invest in infrastructure in Canada, where 241 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:07,719 Speaker 1: they can go. And I think this is going to 242 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: be very successful. I mean again, I was at the 243 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 1: APEX Finance Ministers summit in Peru just recently and I 244 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: was mentioning a number of projects and um, you know, 245 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 1: to give you an example, what I mentioned some of 246 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: the projects. Some of the delegation came to see me 247 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,319 Speaker 1: after and say, that's the type of projects we would 248 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 1: really want to invest. So what are the projects and 249 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 1: my curiosities peak. Yeah, well, I gave the example in Montreal, 250 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: which is a great city. In Montreal, we're building what 251 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: we call a regional electric train and this is about 252 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: a four to five billion dollar projects in Canada. This 253 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: is very great because we're building another public transit, a 254 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: very green one. And when I mentioned that, obviously that 255 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: sparked a lot of interest. Because you have a number 256 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: of delegations who have sovereign funds or others. We say, 257 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: that's exactly the type of projects we want to invest 258 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:02,079 Speaker 1: because you have you know, you know that matches their liabilities. 259 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 1: That those are projects that you can finance over thirty years. 260 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 1: So very interesting for investors to look at. And can 261 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: I interrupt a second now, let me let me turn 262 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: to a couple criticisms that I've heard of infrastructure banks 263 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: and private financing. One is that what Trump and his 264 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: campaign said throughout the year, which which is that an 265 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: infrastructure bank creates a whole new bureaucracy, creates, you know, 266 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: kind of centralizes decision making. That's one criticism. And then 267 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: kind of from the other side of the political aisle, 268 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: you hear the criticism that you know, in order to 269 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: make private financing work, you need you need a pretty 270 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: significant flow of taxes or user fees, and you know 271 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: that burden either tends to fall on the average folks 272 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: using the infrastructure, or you know the project doesn't get 273 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: financed at all. How do you respond to those two issues? Well, 274 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: the first one, I think by pulling the resources and 275 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 1: the projects and an agency, I think you get economy 276 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: of scale and and actually for me, I think it's 277 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 1: a better way to market these projects if you want 278 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 1: to attract global investments, so that people know who to call, 279 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 1: who to talk to if they're interested in investing in 280 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 1: transformational projects. I mean, we're looking about transformational infrastructure projects 281 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: in our nations. I think there's there's a lot of 282 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 1: benefits of having one place where people can actually look 283 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: for and also for this agency to prepare these projects, 284 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: select these projects, and the best way to make sure 285 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: that we're going to attract these global investments. The other thing, 286 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: with respect to the user fees, I mean, if you 287 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: look at regional light trains, the one that was just 288 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: talking about. I mean, people already pay for using these services, 289 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: so I don't think that you can necessarily, like you said, 290 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: equate that would be higher users fees. I think we 291 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 1: know that global capital is looking at investments like these 292 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: one with very long returns, and I think that people 293 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 1: would be um. What I said to Canadians many times, 294 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: and that would apply to the US. Why not put 295 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 1: our pension money working for Canadians. So Canadian pension money 296 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 1: working for Canadians. So when people enter the train in 297 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 1: the morning, they know that they're, for example, in this case, 298 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: their pension has been helping them to build in that 299 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 1: and when they pay the user fee, they're actually investing 300 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: in their own pension. So there's something you know. When 301 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: we went to the public with that, we really made 302 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: the case that this was something good for people and 303 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 1: that would benefit everyone, not just the users. But this 304 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 1: is a good way to reinvest. I mean, we know 305 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: that there's um, there's a fair amount of capital um 306 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: and pension funds around the world. Insurance companies that are 307 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: looking for these types of projects which are going to 308 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: improve our cities, are going to improve our quality of life, 309 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: are going to bring greener infrastructure. And honestly, when you 310 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 1: say to Canadians, why don't we put your pension on 311 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 1: money working for you? Now, that's something that people relate 312 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: to and they accept willingly to say that seems to 313 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: be the smart thing to do today. So this has 314 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: been all very positive, but I have to imagine this 315 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 1: is politics. There's got to have been some negative feedback. 316 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 1: So what's been some of the criticisms of potentially implementing 317 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: an infrastructure bank in Canada. Well, the main criticism we 318 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,120 Speaker 1: got was, and I would say that, is there there 319 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 1: not another agency already existing that could be doing that? 320 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:19,400 Speaker 1: And uh, you know, we had some agency looking at 321 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 1: p p P projects, but I think that we thought 322 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:27,120 Speaker 1: that having a different agency to really with a mandate 323 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: to organize these projects and market them is the best 324 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,200 Speaker 1: way to do. I think there's been very few this 325 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 1: agreement with respected the value and the merit of making 326 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: sure that um uh, we can structure this project to 327 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:42,200 Speaker 1: attract global investment. I think people don't understand the leverage. 328 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,959 Speaker 1: People don't understand that we need to do more and faster. Uh. 329 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: Some people like you mentioned question the user fees and 330 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:52,879 Speaker 1: what we've been very transparent about is that this is 331 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: not for all types of project. Like I said, you know, 332 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: we're putting hundred D six billion in infrastructure over over 333 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:02,959 Speaker 1: twelve years, and we're taking only fifteen billion out of 334 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: this dread a D six in the Infrastructure Bank, and 335 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 1: we think we can raise another twenty billion on the 336 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 1: market for the infrastructure bang. So what we're saying to 337 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,120 Speaker 1: people is that clearly there's some type of investment think 338 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 1: about social infrastructure. I don't necessarily think that we're going 339 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 1: to find projects that would fit the bill to be 340 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 1: fundance to the Infrastructure Bank, but by getting the leverage 341 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:27,639 Speaker 1: with the Infrastructure Bank for those projects that could attract 342 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 1: global capital, that gives us more money to being able 343 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:35,199 Speaker 1: to invest in social infrastructure. And when you explain to 344 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 1: people and you take the time to say this is 345 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:41,360 Speaker 1: about doing more and faster and actually not using public 346 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: funds that would otherwise be needed to build a type 347 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: of infrastructure where we need we can get private capital, 348 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:52,120 Speaker 1: but using these funds too, for example, invest in social housing. 349 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: People really understand that this really makes sense. So how 350 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 1: long until this Infrastructure Bank is up and running, until 351 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 1: it finances it's for projects? Well as you said. We 352 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:05,159 Speaker 1: we announced that in the fall coomic statement we have 353 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 1: in Canada. This is you know, six months after our 354 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 1: federal budget, so you know, we're about building the blueprints 355 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: of that. We want to obviously get the bank started 356 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: as fast as possible. I think based on our discussions 357 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 1: with a number of international partners, there's a lot of 358 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 1: interest in investing in Canada for the reasons we know, 359 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 1: because people want to invest in North America, people have 360 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: confidence in our system, people will see that these green 361 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:35,920 Speaker 1: projects are going to attract significant investments. So we're trying 362 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 1: to set up with you know, a small team to 363 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,360 Speaker 1: start as soon as possible to make sure that we 364 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:45,159 Speaker 1: can start market these projects around the world and get um, 365 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:47,920 Speaker 1: these projects built as soon as possible. So let me 366 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 1: ask you one final question. UM. Like I mentioned before, 367 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 1: the US does use the infrastructure bank model on a 368 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: smaller scale. UM. The idea of being you know, for 369 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: our listeners who don't know about this, certain dates that 370 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 1: have small municipalities, UM, they'll use a state level infrastructure 371 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: bank model. And the way it works is that the 372 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 1: state will borrow money on capital markets using the states 373 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: interest rate UM, which is you know, much lower. Of course, 374 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: than the towns, and then the towns will go to 375 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: the state, you know, saying you know, the infistracture products 376 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 1: that they want to get done, and the state will 377 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 1: effectively lend the money to the individual towns. The whole 378 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 1: purpose being that small towns aren't edged out of the 379 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 1: capital markets, you know, by either just no investor being 380 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: interested or having to pay you know, prohibitively high interest rates. 381 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 1: And the long way of asking you, um, is there 382 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 1: a reason why you didn't look at look at maybe 383 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:48,160 Speaker 1: perhaps doing this on a province by province basis as 384 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: opposed to federal Well, I mean it's interesting you mentioned 385 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: states because I'm a bit familiar with the Alaskan model. 386 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,480 Speaker 1: I think in Alaska there's something similar to that which 387 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 1: I'm familiar because I think I've met with people, Uh 388 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 1: we're saying the great things you've been able to achieve 389 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 1: in Alaska, which respected that in terms of infrastructure development. 390 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: So clearly, like you said, there's different models and more 391 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 1: of it with the Alaska example. But I think for us, 392 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 1: because we're looking at transformational national type of projects, we 393 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 1: thought that this is the best way to to get 394 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,199 Speaker 1: the best leverage was really to have that at the 395 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 1: federal level. UM, we want to make sure that we 396 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 1: attract some of the best talent in this agency. We 397 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: want to make sure that we structure these projects to 398 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 1: be bankable, and I think to do that on a 399 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: national basis. Obviously it could be different in the United 400 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: States because obviously our economy or different size, but we 401 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 1: thought in Canada that the right thing to do was 402 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 1: really to do that on a national basis, so that, UM, 403 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,920 Speaker 1: I think we can better market as a country some 404 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 1: of these projects, whether it's the rail projects I mentioned 405 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 1: in Montreal, or whether you would have a port expansion 406 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,160 Speaker 1: or you would have an apport expansion. I think from 407 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 1: our perspective, UM, it's better to market that at the 408 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:07,680 Speaker 1: national level. And like I said, there's been a great 409 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: level of interest because people have seen probably just like 410 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: you mentioned in the number of United States, but also 411 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: I know in Australian and other place that once they 412 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:20,919 Speaker 1: have created that this has been very beneficial in attracting 413 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:23,160 Speaker 1: the type of global investment that we want to track 414 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 1: to make sure that we can build these projects. UM. 415 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 1: And I think this is the smart thing to do. 416 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: You know, today you have all this capital in in 417 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: pension funds, and insurance company which are looking for these 418 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,199 Speaker 1: types of projects. I mean, our pension funds and our 419 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:39,879 Speaker 1: insurance company are investing abroad, so it just seems to 420 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 1: make sense for us to create the structure that would 421 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: make it possible for them to invest in our own country. Well, first, Philip, 422 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 1: thank you so much for joining us uh this week's benfuct. 423 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for making yourself available. Well, it's 424 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: a great pleasure and and look forward to talk to 425 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:58,199 Speaker 1: you and very happy to to tell you how this 426 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:00,080 Speaker 1: is unfolding. And I'm sure this is going to be 427 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaker 1: a model not only for Canada, but something that could 428 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 1: be replicated in a number of places. Absolutely well, Benchmark 429 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:08,679 Speaker 1: will be back next week, and until then, you can 430 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:11,439 Speaker 1: find us on the Bloomberg terminal, Bloomberg dot com, as 431 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 1: well as on iTunes, Pocketcast, and Stitcher. While you're there, 432 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 1: take a minute to rate and review the show so 433 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 1: that more listeners can find us and let us know 434 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 1: what you thought of the show. You can talk to 435 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 1: and follow us on Twitter at at Scott Landman and 436 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:28,120 Speaker 1: at by Kate Smith. And of course a big shout 437 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 1: out to our folks behind the windows, Sarah Patterson and 438 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: Al McCabe. So, Scott, what do you think? Do you 439 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:36,920 Speaker 1: think we have an infrastructure bank around the corner for 440 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: the US. I'm still holding my breath. I'll believe it 441 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 1: when I see it. Okay, there you kind of theirs first. Yeah, 442 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 1: probably see you next week. Brought to you by Bank 443 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,679 Speaker 1: of America. Meryll Lynch. Seeing what others have seen, but 444 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:04,680 Speaker 1: uncovering what others may not. 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