Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of State for Rural Development knows that the Algonquin Park visitor centre plays an important role in attracting tourists to Ontario. Its mission is more critical this year since tourist operators outside Toronto are bracing for a 35% to 50% drop in business due to SARS, West Nile virus and anti-American comments made by government MPs.
Why does the federal government always find ways to funnel money to voter rich cities instead of considering projects like the Friends of Algonquin Park's expansion for the visitor centre at the east gate?