Congratulations on your election and on joining us here in this House and in this committee. It's really great. We are neighbours geographically as MPs.
I want to start by picking up on something Mr. Lawrence said about the long-standing Conservative support of some of these measures. I do want to specifically single out Mr. Albas, in all seriousness, for having championed this issue at a time when it wasn't so much in vogue. We all remember his spirited “free the beer” campaign. He was absolutely right.
I think it's very exciting. We all know as politicians that there can be really good ideas, but you need the political moment sometimes to make them happen. I think that was the case with creating a national system of early learning and child care. For 50 years Canadian women had been fighting for it. Policy experts all agreed it was a good thing and would make our economy more productive, would make life more affordable for families and would give women more choice. It took a particular moment to make it happen. I believe when it comes to internal trade and major nation-building projects, that moment is now. I really do want to put on the record that Mr. Albas has been championing this for a long time, and that's great. Thank you.
To your specific questions, there are two ways this bill will help the life of every single person each one of us represents. One is the internal trade element. Truly getting rid of barriers to internal trade and labour mobility will make our life easier. It will make it easier for each one of our constituents to move and work around the country. It will make it easier for each one of our constituents who has a business to sell things from that business or provide services across the country. It will give all of us more choice.
I think it will also have a nation-building impact that is psychological. As we build economic networks that are truly pan-Canadian, we will truly be acting as Canadians when we do business or when we perform services rather than as residents of a province.
The second element you mentioned, Chi, is equally important. I think every single one of us as an MP has a list of projects that we really want to get built in our riding. Every single one of us has spoken with frustrated constituents who ask us why we can't get this project built faster. This legislation is an opportunity to build those projects.
Now, I'm here as the internal trade minister, but I'm also the trade minister. I'm glad you mentioned the island airport. I think it provides a lot of benefit for the city that both you and I represent and for our country. This is an opportunity to support our airports and to support our trade corridors across the country. I do really hope that every single MP who is a member of this committee will be actively working with proponents, working with premiers and working indigenous people in their communities to put forward great nation-building projects that could be facilitated by this legislation.