Mr. Speaker, in shorthand this government's mandate is job creation. In longhand the mandate is to modernize, streamline and stimulate the national economy and deal with the deficit and the debt by generating jobs.
The national infrastructure program is a good illustration of this. It is thought of as a job creation program and will create thousands of jobs but it will also improve the efficiency of our economy by modernizing and improving our national infrastructure.
In addition, it is an attempt to stimulate the economy directly by encouraging responsible and productive spending all across the country.
That is why it is so important that the decisions on the thousands of construction projects are being made by local municipalities like Asphodel, Belmont-Methuen, Douro, Dummer, Ennismore, Havelock, Lakefield, North and South Monaghan, Norwood, Otonabee and Smith, all in Peterborough county.
Names like these have not been heard in this House for many years. This government is reaching out to the grassroots of our economy because it knows that is where the economy can be stimulated most effectively and where most jobs can be created.