Success in the Ring of Fire could face two major hurdles, says the leader of the official opposition.
While speaking to local media in Thunder Bay Tuesday, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair said cuts to FedNor and not consulting with First Nations could impede progress of the Ring of Fire development.
The Conservatives have proposed drastic cuts to the regional development agency that could leave it with 18 per cent in overall reduced spending.
Given the potential economic boom of the Ring of Fire development, Mulcair said it’s shocking the Conservatives are rolling back spending.
“The cuts to FedNor could affect everything in the region including the Ring of Fire project,” he said following a tour of the local Bombardier plant.
“If we’re not there at the right time to put in place the infrastructure a lot of things won’t get done. It’s a big mistake. Instead of coming at this with a sharp scalpel [the Conservatives] are hacking away with a rusty machete. FedNor was a good example of something that worked well.”
Some First Nation chiefs voiced concerns last month’s over the federal government’s environmental process and were worried they would face the same environmental problems that Alberta has with the oil sands.
The Conservatives also streamlined the EA process by imposing a two-year deadline.
Mulcair added there’s a mindset that’s not open to working with First Nations and that has to change.
He agreed that there needs to be a proper assessment done but First Nations have to be included.
“One of the problems the Conservatives have right now is by gutting environmental legislation in Canada we no longer have a thorough, credible environmental assessment process,” he said.
“There’s no public trust. Instead of giving a gift to the companies who wanted things to go more rapidly, they actually gave them a poisoned chalice. You might be able to get your regulatory license but without a social license, you won’t be able to proceed. That’s the hard lesson Prime Minister Stephen Harper is just starting to understand.”
FedNor minister Tony Clement fired back at Mulcair by saying he was misleading Canadians by suggesting his stand-alone agency’s budget is being cut.
Clement pointed out that Mulcair said FedNor was going to be shut down last year, which didn’t happen.
“Mulcair’s NDP has consistently stood against the interests of Northern Ontarians,” Clement said in a media release. They stood against Budget 2011, which would have provided funding for a cyclotron at the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute. They stood against Budget 2012, which created the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund.
“While Mulcair’s NDP has stood time and time again against the interests of Northern Ontario, out Conservative government continues to support jobs, growth and economic development.”
Clement said the government is bringing renewed hope to the Ring of Fire development with a $4.4 million commitment over three years.
