Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to bring to the attention of the House that many of the key representatives of Canada's trucking industry are with us in Ottawa today.
It is important to remember that trade is one of the engines of economic growth for Canada. With a relatively small population spread thinly over a vast distance, Canada does not have the luxury of neglecting transportation and trade.
In my riding of Etobicoke North we are close to the Pearson airport and the 400 highways. We know very well why the trucking industry is so vital to Ontario's economy. Total commercial trucking accounts for approximately 400,000 jobs.
I am pleased to see the trucking and railway industries working together to ensure an efficient and safe transportation system that will continue to benefit local and national businesses and, in turn, keep our economy strong.
That is why we must work closely with Canada's trucking industry to ensure that we have an environmentally sound and sustainable transportation system into the next millennium. Working together, Canada's trucking industry keeps Canada rolling.