Transportation strategy tied to economic future
Whether by air, rail, road or marine, this network plays a major role in all ridings across Canada, including Niagara Centre, Canada’s canal corridor.” Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey
Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey hopes to build on incentive programs and initiatives that have been implemented in the past to help ensure a bright economic future for the region.
He said he has been in contact with federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau, recommending that a Canada Transportation and Logistics Strategy be established.
As part of that strategy, Niagara will be recognized as a National GatewayTrade Corridor, complementing its previous provincial designations as a Gateway Economic Zone.
That designation resulted in the incentive programs and government investments that have helped bring new industries to the region.
Niagara recent designation as a Foreign Trade Zone is also part of the overall package, the Liberal backbencher said.
“This is the region’s future,” Badawey wrote in an e-mail. “This will drive Niagara’s economic agenda, while contributing to credible and expected, successful applications for infrastructure funding upon which will align with the overall national and local strategies and designations.” Badawey discussed the initiative in the House of Commons Friday.
During question period, Badawey said the Canada Transportation Act review report, tabled by Garneau earlier this year, “marked the beginning of a new discussion on how we can enhance Canada’s transportation system.”
“Whether by air, rail, road or marine, this network plays a major role in all ridings across Canada, including Niagara Centre, Canada’s canal corridor,” Badawey said.
The minister’s parliamentary secretary, Kate Young, told Badawey since tabling the report, the minister has been hearing views and ideas of Canadians across the country. “The feedback heard during these past months has been incredibly valuable and its rich and diversified input will play a major role in defining his long-term agenda for transportation in Canada,” she said.