Thursday, May 2, 2002

Question on Urban Affairs

Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg--Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, Canada's cities are deteriorating before our very eyes, yet the Liberal government still has no national urban strategy. Some Liberal backbenchers appear to have caught on, but the front bench still has not caught on. In fact the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance are divided, with the Prime Minister saying it is just a provincial responsibility.

I want to ask the government, when are we going to have a national urban strategy from the government, significant investment in mass transit, in environmental clean up, in housing--

The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Transport.

Hon. David Collenette (Minister of Transport, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am glad the hon. member for Winnipeg-Transcona has given us the opportunity to congratulate the member for York West and her colleagues for an outstanding report.

Some hon. members: Hear, hear.

Hon. David Collenette: This is a seminal report that will give direction to the government in the years ahead. The government will act upon that report. We have not just waited for that report. We have invested in a national housing policy. We have invested in infrastructure. Some municipalities, such as Toronto and Edmonton, will be taking advantage of that program.