It's difficult to discuss immigration policies and their affect on infrastructure investment without looking at where immigrants are coming from and the countries Canada does business with.
The Canadian government, in its Building Canada report, recognises the need for Canada as an exporting nation to create an integrated and efficient national transportation system. The report states: "This can be accomplished through targeted investments in short-line railways and short-sea shipping facilities, increasingly important infrastructure in high-traffic areas such as major market hubs and coastal waterways."
Hodgson agrees: "People are looking for better ways to link the whole transportation supply chain together by virtue of the fact that we are trading more with [places like] China and India - and that's going to keep growing." He adds that increases in imports from China have created the need for specific projects. "That's why the Pacific Gateway was so important. That's why the development of ports in Vancouver and other parts of the West Coast were so important. That's why there are hubs being developed in Manitoba and Saskatchewan."