Mr. Speaker, recently the Prime Minister visited Niagara. While there, I urged him to investigate the difficulties we are facing at the border crossings in Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie.
The Canada-U.S. trading relationship is the largest in the world and it is absolutely essential that our borders remain open to the efficient flow of goods and services. One would have had to have been asleep for the last three years not to have noticed the continued slowdowns and tie-ups at our Canadian borders. There are problems with border capacity, labour issues with customs officers and security concerns, all of which require the immediate attention of the Government of Canada.
The government's response has been the same for years. It is consulting with our American allies and it has plans to fix the situation.
Plans are a beautiful thing but plans alone will not solve the problem. I urge the government to get going and get the job done now because the health of the Canadian economy depends on it.