Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Ignatieff of the North

Michael Ignatieff, Member of Parliament for Et...Image via Wikipedia
IQALUIT, Nunavut — Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff launched a 24-hour visit to Iqaluit Wednesday by blasting Prime Minister Stephen Harper for failing to “translate words into deeds” on numerous issues essential to life in the Far North.
“The words from the prime minister are there. But not the action. There’s an infrastructure gap, a housing gap, there’s a self-government gap that he hasn’t closed,” Mr. Ignatieff told reporters.
File this under, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but":

If Iggy wants Nunavut to be self-governing, shouldn't he expect the Nunavuts to get on with fixing the infrastructure gap and the housing gap?

Just asking.

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Ignatieff+uses+Nunavut+visit+blast+Tory+northern+policies/3387143/story.html#ixzz0wLYwNx4U


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3 comments:

wilson said...

''...Hundreds of millions of dollars are expected to flow to Canada's North as a result of Tuesday's federal budget,
with money promised for projects ranging from much-needed public housing to a High Arctic research station.

As part of the $40-billion economic stimulus plan unveiled in Ottawa on Tuesday by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty,
$200 million will flow over two years to social housing units to be built and renovated across the three northern territories.

"The Yukon and Northwest Territories will receive $50 million each, while the remaining $100 million will be allocated to Nunavut, where the need for new social housing is greatest," the budget document reads in part.

The budget also sets aside money for what it calls "priority" infrastructure projects, including:

Construction of a bypass road in Yellowknife, which would take truck traffic out of the city.
Water treatment projects in the Yukon.
Building the Piqqusilirivvik cultural facility in Clyde River, Nunavut.
Up to $17 million to speed up work on a small-craft harbour in Pangnirtung, Nunavut.


The budget gives $2 million to the federal Indian and Northern Affairs Department to conduct a feasibility study into the world-class High Arctic scientific research station that the government had promised in its 2007 throne speech.

If built, the High Arctic station would act as a hub for existing northern research stations and scientific activity centred on the Arctic environment, according to the budget, which also set aside up to $85 million over the next two years to maintain or upgrade "key Arctic research facilities."

Northern economic development is also in the budget, with $50 million to be spent over five years to establish a new economic development agency in the region.

A further $90 million will be spent, also over five years, to renew the government's Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development program, which will form the heart of the new agency.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2009/01/27/budget-north.html#ixzz0wLu1yhcX

The_Iceman said...

It is nice to see you writing about politics again.

Anonymous said...

Snore... every liberal promises to make the natives rich beyond their imaginations and every liberal fails to do squat. (real conservative)

"... nothing intellectually compelling or challenging.. bald assertions coupled to superstition... woefully pathetic"