Rota - FedNor Budget Slap In The Face

Nipissing-Timiskaming Liberal MP Anthony Rota says a 13 percent decrease to the FedNor budget is a slap in the face to the people of Northern Ontario.

Rota the Liberal Critic for FedNor says the cuts will be devastating to job development in the region. He also said that when the Liberals were in power they didn’t just pay lip service to programs like FedNor, they put their money where their mouths were.

Full details contained in the release below.

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The Conservative government’s decision to cut FedNor’s annual budget by nearly 13 percent is a slap in the face to the people of Northern Ontario, Nipissing-Timiskaming Liberal MP and Critic for FedNor Anthony Rota said today.

“By cutting base-funding for FedNor the Harper government is delivering a tremendous blow to communities and organizations throughout Northern Ontario,” Mr. Rota said. “This federal funding is essential to creating jobs and strengthening our regional economy.”

In a recent announcement, the Minister responsible for FedNor, Tony Clement, confirmed his government’s plan to cut the program’s annual budget from the $51.9 million allocated by the previous Liberal government to $45.5 million.

“Mr. Clement may claim to support regional economic development, but he is unwilling to put his government’s money where his mouth is,” Mr. Rota said. “The Liberals didn’t just pay lip-service to regional development programs such as FedNor; they backed up their commitment with real money and real results.”

Mr. Rota also pointed out that in addition to the budget cut, very few FedNor project proposals have actually been announced since the Conservative Government took office last January.

“It seems strange to me that out of the handful of funding applications that have been announced by this government, one third of them are targeted to the Minister’s own riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka,” said Mr. Rota.

Mr. Rota urged the Conservative government not to abandon the people of Northern Ontario at a time when they are already feeling the effects of the on-going softwood lumber dispute, the closure of mills and mines, and the aftermath of the BSE crisis.

“The Conservatives are looking to cut $22.5 billion in federal spending over the next five years. Given the challenges we face in this region, it’s unconscionable that the Harper government has chosen to begin these cuts in Northern Ontario. It is crucial that this government make Northern Ontario a priority so that we can better compete in the global marketplace of the 21st century,” Mr. Rota said.

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