David Bradley, chief executive officer of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, says Canada should use its fuel taxes to repair highways, or scrap the tax entirely.

Appearing before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport Wednesday, Bradley said, "Canada is the only major industrialized country on the planet without a national highway policy."
He said the nation needs a plan and long-term funding to address the country’s highway deficit. And, he said, government’s excuse of having no money is wearing thin.
"The federal excise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel presently serve no policy purpose other than to fill the government’s coffers. Let’s take the $4.8 billion in fuel taxes collected annually by the federal government and dedicate these monies into a national highway trust fund or scrap the tax," Bradley said. "Of utmost importance are our major north-south trade corridors and their feeder links."
Responding to questions from the Transport Committee on security issues, Bradley remarked, "If we don’t pay attention to the transportation infrastructure needs of industry especially those industries that rely on just in time deliveries, Canada runs the very real risk of direct investment fleeing Canada and moving south of the 49th parallel. Canada needs more than a level playing field for our exports to the U.S. ... we need a clear advantage. We won’t need trucks or trains if we are not manufacturing anything in Canada."