Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's questions and comments on this program. I do not think he used the phrase but I think he is questioning the efficacy of the whole concept of regional economic expansion.
I come from southwestern Ontario, which is a rather successful part of Canada when we look at the full nation, although we certainly have some problems to solve such as unemployment. We are doing our best in that regard.
My colleague opposite comes from the province of Saskatchewan and he understands that his part of Canada is quite successful. However there are some problem as well.
The question my colleague puts is an either/or. Should we put all of our attention on to the small business loans approach or should we continue with the concept of sharing economically through a regional economic sharing of resources? Frankly, as a Canadian I reject the choice. I do not think it is an either/or. The answer to my colleague is that we should do both. I believe there is a place for both.
The people I represent by and large understand and appreciate that they are economically in an advantaged part of Canada. They are quite prepared and magnanimous enough to share with other Canadians as part of the price to pay to have a nation from coast to coast.
I will be candid and say that we had a little dispute recently about the idea of some workers coming from Cape Breton. The question was never where the people came from. We have thousands of Atlantic Canadians and Canadians from all other provinces living and contributing to the community. The only question was to what degree the trip would be subsidized.
As far as the concept of sharing and being open to Canadians to come to our city or sharing our resources with people from coast to coast, the people I represent endorse that. They see it as an important part of being a Canadian. It is a small price to pay to be part of the great nation we all live in.