News

With respect to funds allocated to the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor):

1. what is the global budget of FedNor and its programs from 2003 to the present;
2. how much of FedNor's economic development funding and other funding it administers has gone to projects and initiatives in Northern Ontario from 2003 to the present, and how does FedNor define "Northern Ontario", i.e. its boundaries, and when and how has that definition changed since 1993;

With respect to the Summer Career Placement Program and the Canada Summer Jobs program:

1. what was the total annual expenditure for each year from 2003 to 2007, inclusive;
2. how many job positions were supported through the programs for each year from 2003 to 2007, inclusive;
3. for the year 2007, how many applications were received and from whom;
4. for the year 2007,
* (i) how many applications were approved initially and for which employers,

OTTAWA - NDP MPs working with community groups celebrated a partial victory for students and communities today, as Service Canada confirmed that all non-profit groups receiving funding to hire summer students last year will receive funding this year under Canada Summer Jobs.

SAULT STE. MARIE - Five Members of Parliament from the all-party federal steel caucus will visit Sault Ste. Marie Thursday, June 7 to tour local steel plants and learn firsthand of Essar's bid to purchase Algoma Steel.

OTTAWA – This morning, NDP MP Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain) introduced legislation that will allow ordinary Canadians to hold oil and gas companies to account for unfair gas pricing.

“The Oil and Gas Ombudsman would be charged with providing strong, effective consumer protection to make sure no big business can swindle, cheat or rip off hard-working Canadians,” said Charlton. “I’ve heard over and over again from people who feel they are getting hosed at the pumps. And they are right.”

"Despite low unemployment rates, booming corporate profits and government surpluses, the prosperity gap is leaving too many ordinary families behind" -Tony Martin.

OTTAWA – NDP Social Policy critic Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie) has won crucial parliamentary committee meetings to study the growing prosperity gap trapping far too many Canadians in poverty or economic insecurity.

“More and more ordinary Canadians find it unacceptable that the average income gap between the richest 20 per cent and the poorest 20 per cent is now a staggering $105,400.

SAULT STE. MARIE – Tony Martin spent part of Sunday walking Lake Superior shoreline with constituents, alarmed at how record low water levels have exposed hundreds of feet of previously submerged bottom.

“Shocked is the only word I have for it,” Martin said. “Take a look at these pictures I am releasing and judge for yourselves. Is it less snow? Climate change? Diversion to the U.S.? People have different ideas. It’s important to find out where this water is going.”

SAULT STE. MARIE—FEDNOR’s $2.7 million dollar funding announced today for trade, Sault Area Hospital, the airport, youth interns and Garden River is an excellent investment of federal dollars, Sault MP Tony Martin said today.

“I welcome Minister Tony Clement and say thank you. In the short term, this kind of investment for the economy, healthcare and our community groups is exactly the assistance FEDNOR is well suited to provide.”

OTTAWA – The NDP today rallied around an Ontario-based passenger rail coalition’s call for major government investment in crumbling rail infrastructure and infrequent service in Canada.

“We need a new national vision for our railways,” said Tony Martin (MP-Sault Ste. Marie. “Passenger rail service is good for the economy, good for our tourism industry and good for the environment, including reducing congestion on our roads.” Martin rode part of the Coalition for Passenger Train’s All-Aboard journey this week from Sault Ste. Marie through Northern Ontario to Toronto’s Union Station.

The Liberal motion actually prolongs a George Bush-style combat mission in Afghanistan -- Martin.

OTTAWA – Sault MP Tony Martin and the NDP voted Tuesday in the House of Commons against extending Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan another two years.