[Prime Minister] Harper tours Niagara

PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN STOP?

Posted By Ray Spiteri, Review Staff Writer

Published: September 4, 2009

With the possibility of a federal election this fall, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a campaign-like stop in Niagara Thursday, visiting three locations his government has poured millions of dollars into recently.

Harper joined Niagara Falls MP Rob Nicholson in touring the construction site of the new Niagara Convention and Civic Centre, the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge and the Shaw Festival Theatre.

The federal government has contributed $35 million towards the construction of the convention centre [a Bondfield led project] on Stanley Avenue, $62 million towards the second phase of an expansion project at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge [a Bondfield project] and $2.1 million towards promotion of the Shaw Festival in Niagara- on-the-Lake.

During a noon press conference at the Queenston Plaza, Harper spoke mostly about the importance of seeing the bridge project completed, but also took questions about his government's future in power.

"Today, I was pleased to be able to get a first-hand look ... and also to see the progress to date of the second phase of improvements to the Queenston Plaza," Harper said to a room full of local dignitaries."

"In the short term, these projects, like the convention centre I toured a bit earlier today ... are creating jobs and opportunities for people and businesses in the Niagara region."

"But the big pay off is in the longer term when this border crossing will be faster, safer and easier for commercial and passenger traffic because as the (economic) recovery gathers steam, so will the volume of cross-border trade and tourism."

"And through the revitlization of these bridge facilities, Queenston and the Niagara Region will reap the full economic benefits."

The redevelopment at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge is a joint project between the federal government and the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission.

The second phase will include construction of a new commercial vehicle secondary inspection warehouse, additional primary inspection lanes, a new central building for the Canada Border Services Agency and a new animal inspection facility.

"In these difficult times of global economic recession, the free and efficient flow of goods and people between our two trade-dependent countries is more important than ever," said Harper.

Much of Harper's remarks focused around his government's investments in local and national infrastructure projects. But once the floor was opened to questions from the media, the prime minister was asked whether he thought the NDP and Bloc Quebecois would support Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's efforts to bring the Conservatives down when Parliament resumes sitting in late September.

If they do, through a vote of non-confidence, Canadians could be headed to the polls for the fourth time in five years.

"Our government is committed to working on the economy," said Harper. "That is what we have been doing since we were re-elected (in 2008). That's what we've been doing this summer. That's what we will continue to do. That's what I would urge the opposition parties to do."

"We will not be making any back room deals. If other parties ... have useful ideas -good, effective, affordable ideas on the economy, let us see what they are and we'll take a look at them."

Harper said the Canadian economy is recovering, despite the high unemployment rates reported across Canada. As of July, Statistics Canada figures show the average national unemployment rate to be 8.6 per cent -10.3 per cent in Niagara.

"We know its been a difficult time for Canadians. At the same time, we also know not as difficult as a lot of other parts of the world, including south of the border," he said.

Harper said the federal government has also made "tremendous efforts" to ensure the majority of Canadians have passport or passport-equivalent documents to comply with new U. S. border-crossing requirements.

"This country is obviously prepared to work with our American friends on any issues of security," he said.

"But let's do so in a way that minimizes disruption to trade, to travel and of course, to the social interaction that is the lifeblood of the friendship between our two countries."

Article courtesy of the The Niagara Falls Review