Mr. Speaker, regional economic development agencies are at the forefront in strengthening local economies and fighting the effects of the recession.
However, we learned yesterday that the Conservatives are planning to slash their budgets. These cuts will hurt communities across Canada, but the damage will be the worst in the west. Western Economic Diversification alone is taking a 50% hit to its funding. That is less money for badly needed jobs, less for infrastructure, less for trade and tourism and less for small business.
With families and businesses still struggling, why has the government abandoned job-creating investments in the communities that need them the most?