Mr. Speaker, the existence of the toll highway in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia is an affront to all Canadians. To note that it is also part of the so-called Trans-Canada Highway only doubles the insult.
Back in the days when it was the government's duty to provide basic services, the construction of the Trans-Canada system was seen as a federal government priority. These days we have the federal government subsidizing the construction of a privately owned toll road that receives all westbound traffic from Newfoundland and the maritimes.
We are not in the United States. Up here it is the crown's job to build and maintain roads. As long as we pay our taxes we should be allowed to walk or ride on them free. This is a tax on transportation for all Atlantic Canadians.
I call on the federal government to intervene in this matter and have these tolls removed immediately so that the free flow of traffic from east to west can continue unimpeded.