Invest in northern British Columbia transportation projects that are critical to growing the economy driven by the emerging gateway between North America and Asia.
It's one of key messages the Conservative government heard from municipal and business leaders Wednesday during a budget input session in Prince George.
Other key messages included eliminating the duplication of provincial and federal environmental reviews of natural resource projects, and bringing trades training as close as possible to small communities.
"We need to open the Asia Pacific to every opportunity we have," Initiatives Prince George CEO Tim McEwan told the two-hour, invitation-only input session, one of 170 being held across the country as a precursor to the 2011 spring federal budget.
The Conservatives have already said they are turning the tap off on new stimulus spending - implemented two years ago to mitigate the impact of a global recession.
The Conservatives rolled out a multi-billion dollar spending plan in 2009 and 2010 meant to stimulate the economy.
It pushed Canada into a record deficit in 2009 at $55.6 billion. That is forecast to be reduced to $45.4 billion in the fiscal year ending March 31.
The Conservatives plan to balance the budget by 2015.
Despite the promised federal belt tightening, Conservative MPs were asked to look at infrastructure spending as an investment, rather than a cost.
McEwan listed widening Highway 16 to four lanes, and adding more container and coal capacity at the Port of Prince Rupert as priority projects.
He said the federal government could engage Alberta and Saskatchewan on sharing costs as they also benefit from the emerging northern corridor.
Ottawa has contributed $30 million to the $170 million container-handling facility in Prince Rupert, and one third of the $36-million runway extension at the Prince George Airport.
The corridor is meant to tap into the growing trade between North America and Asia. Sailing times from the Port of Prince Rupert to Asia are shorter than from other ports along the west coast. The rail link from Prince Rupert to the heartland of North America is also less congested.
There are signs the region is benefiting from the corridor already. Lumber shipments in containers from north-central B.C. to China via the Port of Prince Rupert have skyrocketed.
Several community representatives - including from Prince George, Vanderhoof and Mackenzie - noted the duplicated environmental review process at the provincial and federal level create delays in assessing projects.
District of Mackenzie official Warren Waychesen said the duplication needs to be eliminated.
Vanderhoof mayor Gerry Thiessen said trades training needs to be brought into small communities where people in their 20s and 30s, often with families and mortgages, don't have the ability to travel far.
Cariboo-Prince George Conservative MP Dick Harris organized the input meeting after The Citizen reported two weeks ago meetings were only being held in southern B.C.
Ontario MP Gordon O'Connor, the Conservative's chief whip, said the input will be taken unfiltered directly to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.
O'Connor has responsibility for the riding of Prince George-Peace River vacated when long-time MP Jay Hill resigned.
Lois Boone, the NDP candidate for the Prince George-Peace River riding, has criticized the Conservatives for not opening the budget input session to the public.
