Mr. Speaker, the more the years pass, the more things remain the same as far as Liberals are concerned.
One hundred years ago, newspapers in western Canada were complaining about the indifference of the Liberal government to the needs of the west.
Wilfrid Laurier, against the wishes and advice of western Canada, reduced the ranks and efficiency of the mounted police. Unlike more recent Liberal prime ministers, at least Laurier had the integrity to admit he had made a mistake.
What was the concern expressed by westerners 100 years ago? That cattle and horse thieves would run rampant without effective policing. What are the concerns of the west today? That drug dealers, criminal refugee claimants and organized crime is running rampant without effective policing.
History shows time and time again that the Liberals do not care what happens in the west just as long as we keep sending our tax dollars to Ottawa.
They made the point 100 years ago, and it is still valid. The Liberals do not have, and never had, the interests of the western half of the nation at heart.