Tory leader blowing hot air about the North, Duguid says

Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown recently attempted to spread false information about our government’s economic development support in Sudbury and Northern Ontario.

Perhaps Mr. Brown is unaware that under the provincial Liberal government, funding for northern businesses and infrastructure has actually increased from $60 million in 2003 to $100 million annually through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC).

Mr. Brown should know about this – he and his party voted against every funding increase to NOHFC our government has proposed to date, and against every regional economic development initiative in the southwest and southeast of the province.

If his party were in power, economic development grants would be slashed across the province, effectively turning their backs on the $1 billion in investments through the NOHFC, which has leveraged more than $3.6 billion in direct economic activity and created or sustained over 26,000 jobs in the North since 2003.

This year alone, we supported Sudbury’s film and television industry with $12.8 million in partnerships, and provided over $11.5 million for northern youth internship placements in private, public, and non-profit organizations.

The province is a significant partner in the construction of Maley Drive in Sudbury with a $26.7 million investment – a plan that promises long term economic benefits, whether through easing traffic congestion or creating jobs during the construction phase.

Since 2005, Ontario’s forestry sector has received more than $1 billion from the Liberal government. Last year, we introduced a new forestry stream in the $2.7-billion Jobs and Prosperity Fund, which will provide strategic support to this sector across the North, leading to growth and job creation.

To say that northern economic development has been anything other than a top priority for the Liberal government is not just wrong, but reckless.

We encourage Mr. Brown and his party to get on board and support this government’s efforts to encourage even greater prosperity for Ontario’s North.