Mr. Speaker, the last best west was developed with the help of railways. Railways were built and have continuously operated in western Canada with massive government assistance.
Now railways are pulling up stake and leaving town. Rail line abandonment is a real threat on the prairies. The government invested in the only infrastructure able to efficiently transport grain. With that gone, there is no viable route for grain. Our roads are in shambles and our elevators are closing.
The federal government must invest in new infrastructure. The National Highway Act of 1919 has to be taken off the back burner and put on the front of the agenda.
Without a co-ordinated highways program many farmers will loose their livelihood because of not being able to haul their grain.