Mr. Speaker, as we approach the release date of the federal budget, Canadians are expressing some very strong opinions about what should be and should not be contained in that budget.
One thing we should not overlook in this process is that the current emphasis on expenditure cuts will leave people living in rural areas of Canada more adversely affected than their urban neighbours.
If the emphasis remains where it is today, the reduction in rural services, which began with former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's cuts and closures to post offices, will continue in transportation and rural support services. For example, the national highways program is threatened, the rail system is under attack and rural local airports have lost support.
Rural residents will find that they have to go further and spend more money to maintain their quality of life because of these and other cuts.
The policies expressed and implied by the federal finance minister are not being delivered in a fair or even handed way and Canadians should take note of this.