(Queen’s Park) Today in the Ontario Legislature, Norm Miller MPP for Parry Sound – Muskoka and Northern Development and Mines Critic for the PC Party, continued to unravel the mystery of where $358 million went from the Community Development Trust Fund.
“Originally I asked this question because I was hearing from several Northern Ontario Mayors that they had no idea where the Community Development Trust Fund money went,” said Norm Miller. “The Minister of Economic Development didn’t have an answer the first time I asked, so I thought I would ask the Minister of Northern Development and Mines. From Minister Gravelle’s answer it is clear they still don’t have an answer.”
The Community Development Trust Fund was introduced in early 2008 as a three year program intended to aid sectors of the Ontario economy that were struggling as a result of lower U.S. dollar and increased global competition. The funds are to be used for programs to support improved productivity and competitiveness, technology development, and training for affected workers and communities in agriculture, forestry, and manufacturing.
“I saw the question he asked and the Minister’s answer, but I still have no idea where the money is. I haven’t seen any applications forms for this grant, nor do I know even where to get one, or if they even exist,” said Terry Fiset, Mayor of Elk Lake.
“I will continue to push for an accounting of these funds and hopefully I will have a better answer for Northern Ontario Mayors soon,” concluded Miller.
To see Norm Miller ask his question in the house, follow this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf6dXEPfjKU
The Hansard Transcript Follows:
Legislative assembly of ontario
tuesday May 12, 2009
Northern Ontario development
Mr. Norm Miller: I have a question for the Minister of Northern Development and Mines. Minister, two weeks ago, I asked your colleague the Minister of Economic Development about $358 million that was given to Ontario from the federal government as part of the community development trust fund. To refresh your memory, the fund is intended to help one-industry towns like most of the towns in northern Ontario that are currently suffering. In light of your colleague’s comments last week about picking winners and losers, can you tell me if any of this community development trust fund is being spent to help northern communities?
Hon. Michael Gravelle: To the Minister of Economic Development.
Hon. Michael Bryant: The gist of your question was directed toward the idea that the government is engaged in activist efforts to try and promote communities across this province by recognizing that we are in competition with other jurisdictions that are making investments by way of loans and grants to attract those businesses to those communities.
I can say without any doubt that for all those announcements that the member would have stood up and celebrated in his community because of the investments that government’s made to his community, businesses and jobs there, I can assure the member that we will continue to provide that support to his community and all northern communities as we continue to make the northern Ontario economy as strong as we possibly can, using every single tool in the tool kit. At the end of the day, the members across the way know well they will stand up, smile and celebrate those investments, every single one of them.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary.
Mr. Norm Miller: Minister, maybe you could send the question back to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines because I’m trying to find out if any of the $358 million was spent in the north.
I was up in Englehart last week and spoke with the mayor of Elk Lake Terry Fiset. He told me he had seen the question I has asked two weeks ago. He saw your answer, and he still didn’t know if any money was going to the north, so I’m trying to find out if any of this $358 million went to the north.
The federal government’s website states, “Provincial and territorial governments are encouraged to report directly to their constituents on the expenditures, finance and outcomes achieved with the funding provided through the community development trust” fund.
Minister, why hasn’t this been done? For the second time, could this government please tell the members of the Legislature which communities received money, how much they got and of the $358 million that’s left did any of it go to the north?
Hon. Michael Bryant: I happily refer this to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines..
Hon. Michael Gravelle: I think it’s a great opportunity for me to remind the member opposite, indeed, of the incredible economic contribution we’ve made through the northern Ontario heritage fund. Since 2003, when our government took office, we have made $400 million in investments, leveraging $1.2 billion in funding, which has gone towards creating 9,000 jobs in northern Ontario, many of the projects in the member’s riding, and we are very proud of that.
We are very proud of the fact as well that our government, the McGuinty government, is supporting an increase in the northern Ontario heritage fund—$60 million last year, $80 million this year and, in fact, going to $100 million. Certainly we have made extraordinary investments in northern Ontario, a program that we have supported greater than any other government, and we’re extremely pleased about the jobs—
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you.
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