Speaking Notes for the Honourable Marc Garneau Minister of Transport: Official opening of the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway

Speech

Windsor, Ontario
December 14 2015

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Thank you for that introduction.

It's an honour today to help officially open the final stretch of the new Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway.

This 11 kilometre project has been some four years in construction. But it's worth remembering that Herb Gray, who passed away last year, represented this region as a Member of Parliament for close to four decades.

Only two other honourable members have surpassed that record. So if this road lasts as well and proves to be as durable as its namesake did in the House, it will certainly perform a distinguished public service.

This new parkway will ease driving for commuters by helping to reduce vehicle congestion on roads in the region.

It will give the significant amount of truck traffic that passes through the region a safer and more efficient route on which to travel.

And, once the new Gordie Howe International Bridge is completed, the parkway will connect Highway 401 to the new crossing and Interstate 75 in the United States for the first time.

So, for this region, it will help to improve access and mobility across the Detroit River.

As some of you may know, Herb Gray was a formidable parliamentarian. In the House of Commons, his ability to deflect challenging questions became known as the "Gray Fog."

So it's kind of appropriate that a road which will help to deflect some traffic away from Windsor has been named after Herb Gray.

But apart from bearing Herb's name, the Government of Canada's support for this project demonstrates our commitment to improving transportation and trade at our shared border.

Our contribution to this project demonstrates two key commitments.

First, our commitment to reducing traffic congestion and giving this region an economic boost.

And second, our ongoing support for bilateral trade between Canada and the United States.

As many of you know, the trucks that carry goods both ways between Canada and the United States make this region the busiest commercial border crossing in North America.

Secure and efficient border crossings and efficient roads that link to them are vitally important to the economies of both Canada and the United States.

Keeping those trucks moving efficiently through these corridors is crucial, not only for this region, but for all of Canada.

Ladies and gentlemen, we look forward to backing such projects.

And we look forward to working with our provincial government partners to pursue our common goals, so we can use trade and transportation to help build a strong future for this region, this province and this country.

Thank you again for inviting me to join you today.


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