Mr. Speaker, as a lifelong rural advocate for South Shore—St. Margarets, and as a former educator and award-winning researcher on rural youth and development, I rise today to speak about the vital importance of rural economic development in Canada.
Rural communities are not just picturesque backdrops. They are the lifeblood of this country. They are where our milk is produced, where the seafood on our plate is hauled in and where the Christmas trees that brighten our homes in December are grown. In fact, my own grandfather, with Riverview Christmas Tree Farm, was a grower in Lunenburg county, the Christmas tree capital of the world.
My research has long been focused on ensuring rural people are not left behind. Too often, rural needs are treated as afterthoughts. We must change that, because when we invest in rural infrastructure, innovation and education, we invest in the sustainability of our food systems, our natural resources and our local industries.
Rural Canada does not just feed us, it grounds us. Let us prioritize it.