OTTAWA – Kenora MP Greg Rickford is less than impressed with efforts to rename FedNor. “Earlier this week the Opposition Coalition voted in favour of Bill C-309 – a bureaucratic make-work project to rename FedNor,” stated Rickford. “It’s unbelievable that the Opposition Coalition would take direction from their Toronto HQ (Layton and Ignatieff’s home ridings) and vote to keep the long-gun registry”.
“But it’s an insult to have the Bloc forcing a bill on Northern Ontarians that will turn FedNor on its head, right as our economy struggles to emerge from the worstrecession in decades,” added the Kenora riding MP. “FedNor is successfully bringing innovation, well-paying jobs and growth to the people of Northern Ontario. Bill C-309 would introduce more bureaucracy and unnecessary expense to FEDNOR. That’s why it will not be around for another vote as the speaker has ruled the Private Member’s Bill requires a royal recommendation because it costs more money. Yet somehow, Mr. Rota and his separatist coalition believe that adding the word Agency after FedNor is what the Federal Government should be doing to improve the economic situation in Northern Ontario”.
“What Mr. Rota and the coalition need to understand is that FedNor is driving economic change in Northern Ontario right now; a simple name change will do nothing to create jobs, spur innovation or help small businesses with their goals,” continued Rickford. “What I can’t understand is why, for 13 years, the former Liberal government celebrated FedNor and it’s achievements and the second Mr. Rota leaves government he thinks it’s time for a name change, it’s just puzzling.”
“What Ignatieff’s Opposition Coalition fails to realize is that this bill is merely window dressing and will not bring better results for Northern Ontarians. The Liberal-Bloc -NDP Coalition has shown time and time again that they do not understand the people of Northern Ontario; if they did, they would be less concerned about renaming FedNor, and more supportive of the real priorities of the people of the region, like the massive infrastructure projects we have underway in Northwestern Ontario and quashing the long gun registry”.