NDP Media Release
OTTAWA — In a stunning admission, the Director General of the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor) spelled out clearly that Conservative funding and staffing cuts that decimated the agency are being maintained under the new Liberal regime.
NDP FedNor critic Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) is demanding to know how it’s possible to talk economic development in Northern Ontario while simultaneously implementing Stephen Harper’s budget cuts to the agency tasked with making this happen.
“Far too many projects aimed at improving the lives for Northerners are being sidelined because of a lack of FedNor funding,” said Angus.
“But for the new Liberal regime to keep delivering on Stephen Harper’s cuts shows this government doesn’t have a champion who understand the realities of Northern Ontario,”
The Director General of FedNor further confirmed at committee:
- FedNor’s budget stands at a low of 31 million dollars from the high of 76 million dollars a decade ago
- 75% of all of FedNor’s budget is already assigned before the year begins severely limiting their ability to fund new initiatives
- FedNor Staffing remains at the Harper low of 81 from a previous high of 120
“Creating economic diversification in the north shouldn’t be seen as a partisan issue which is why I’ve fought for FedNor to be a standalone agency - so that we can ensure greater independence, transparency and accountability,” added Angus.
“Canadians I talk to want a good job and a bright future for their kids. These cuts provide neither and need to be reversed and I’ll keep fighting to do just that.”
