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North not totally off Harper's radar

Although there were no Conservatives MPs elected north of Parry Sound, the region is bound to get some attention from the Harper government because two new cabinet ministers have "northern" connections.

Although there were no Conservatives MPs elected north of Parry Sound, the region is bound to get some attention from the Harper government because two new cabinet ministers have "northern" connections.

A man who was born in Timmins is Prime Minister Stephen Harper's new Indian and Northern Affairs Minister.

Jim Prentice, 49, who was elected for the second time in Calgary Centre-North last month, was sworn into his new position Monday. He had acted as Harper's critic for Indian and Northern Affairs while in opposition.

The MPs' father was a professional hockey player in the 1940s, and moved his family from Timmins to Alberta. Prentice put himself through university and law school by working in coal mines in the summer.

As a lawyer, he served as a law commissioner of the Indian Claims Commission of Canada for 10 years, and is recognized as an expert in land claims negotiations.

Prentice was a member of the old Progressive Conservative Party for many years, and ran unsuccessfully for party's leadership in 2003. Later that year, he also ran for the leadership of the new Conservative Party, but withdrew from the race because of a lack of funds.

Metis Nation of Ontario president Tony Belcourt welcomes Prentice's appointment to cabinet.

"We look forward to the opportunity of working with Mr. Prentice," said Belcourt in a release.

"Mr. Prentice is well-grounded in his knowledge of the aboriginal peoples of Canada and has a demonstrated sensitivity to our concerns. We have every expectation that he will develop a good rapport with our people and will take a very constructive approach to addressing our issues."

Tony Clement, who represents the riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka is the new health minister. Clement, a former MPP, was the health minister in the Harris government. In that position, he advocated private/public health care programs. Clement is best remembered for confidently handling the SARS crisis in 2003.

Ontario is represented by nine ministers in the new Harper cabinet.

Former Ontario finance minister Jim Flaherty, who represents Whitby-Oshawa, was named finance minister for Canada.




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