Madam Speaker, I am delighted three northern municipal associations are in Ottawa today: the Association of Yukon Communities, the Northwest Territories Association of Municipalities and the Nunavut Association of Municipalities. They have a majority of the population of half of Canada in their memberships.
These northern associations made a passionate plea before the Standing Committee on Finance this morning for economic development funding and infrastructure for the north.
They offered several solutions on how to do it: development of a northern regional development agency, economic development agreements for the north, and recalculation of the way northern infrastructure programs are delivered in the north. All Canadians would benefit by having a productive, self-sustaining and dynamic northern economy that could be created by federal investment.
I encourage all members of parliament, and indeed all Canadians, to travel to this beautiful part of our nation during all seasons of the year.