Group launches e-mail blitz for highways

WINNIPEG (July 6, 2000) — Another lobby group is making its pitch for Ottawa to Canada’s national highway system.

“We are the only country in the western civilized world where the federal government does not participate in the strategic development and funding of its key national transportation system,” said Chris Lorenc, president of the Infrastructure Council of Manitoba.

The coalition is asking taxpayers to e-mail Prime Minister Jean Chretien, urging him to provide political and financial support for a national highways system.

A prepared text message is available on the coalition’s Web site at www.highway1canada.com. Each message sent to Chretien is copied to premiers and territorial leaders.

“Canada needs an efficient transportation system that is strategically laid out across the country to maintain our own internal trade, east-west, and to be competitive with respect to north-south trade,” said Lorenc, who is also with the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association.