Madam Chair, through this whole process, I have listened to several ministers talk about different initiatives and I want to share a few thoughts.
When we talk about the issue of transportation, for example, I have seen the minister talk about the importance of airports to our local communities. I can only imagine the potential impact that an airport and the facilities surrounding it would have on the economy and the community in which they are located.
I know that even though the minister responsible talks a great deal about rail line safety and how important that is for him personally, being his number one priority, I also know that he gives a great deal of attention to our aerospace industry and in particular our airports.
We have seen legislation that has allowed for significant growth in our aerospace industry, and in particular our airports. In the city of Winnipeg is our Winnipeg international airport. I know how much it contributes to our economy and, as I mentioned a few seconds ago, the social fabric of our community.
I wonder if the minister can provide some of his thoughts on how important it is that, when we talk about budgets, whether a budgetary measure or a regulation measure, the government recognize how important our airports are to the many communities in all the regions in Canada.