Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had a statement prepared to speak on another issue, but I am advised by more experienced Members here that I cannot make a statement on something that is already on the agenda later on.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about my other favourite issue, which has to do with Highway No. 3. Prior to our journey last Session in the summer time, I stated in this House that I was planning on driving a national highway from Toronto to Yellowknife myself so that I could tell first hand how our stretch of road from Rae to Yellowknife compares.
Mr. Speaker, I can report to you that I did indeed take that trip. I drove every kilometre of that 5,500 stretch with my mother next to me, and I must say it was a very great drive. I was very envious of the all the construction work that was happening in Ontario, especially northern Ontario, and I drove through the city of Kenora, which I believe is the riding of our Minister of DIAND. I noticed the freshly paved road coming out of his riding, and I wondered why he could not have put that sort of money into our part of the world.
Mr. Speaker, I must stay, driving through northern Saskatchewan was wonderful. The road was straight, even paved, and no one I do not think drove at the speed limit. I think that you could actually drive at a considerably faster speed than, I think, the speed limit of about 100 kilometres per hour.
Mr. Speaker, I could advise you that we did not know whether to cry or laugh when we hit the last 75 kilometres right after Rae. I think the stretch of the road from the border to Rae is so beautiful. It is straight, it is wide, it is even. You could see the trucks from hundreds of miles ahead of you because the road is so great. Seeing all the wildlife was just absolutely great.
My mom kept saying, "There is nothing wrong with this road. What are you talking about in the House?"
-- Laughter
Of course, until I hit the last 75 kilometres and I had to drive at about 50 kilometres to make sure that I did not endanger my life and my mother's. I thought that if I could only convince the Minister of Transportation of the federal government to drive that road, we would not have to make any more statements because he would be absolutely embarrassed that he actually has the last 75 kilometres of our national highway that is not fit to be a trail in anybody's book. That is my impromptu speech on Highway 3, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
-- Applause