Government MP Continues to Get Local Issues on National Radar

Kenora - MP Greg Rickford continued this week to build on his record of ensuring that the priorities of workers, families and communities in his riding are front and center in the minds of policy makers in Ottawa. Rickford hosted David Anderson, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, at roundtables in Kenora and Dryden today.

The events build on the Conservative Government’s commitment to those Canadian workers, families and communities who are facing difficulties as a result of the global economic slowdown. Rickford will now accompany the Parliamentary Secretary to Thunder Bay for another natural resources roundtable focused on helping workers, families and communities in Northern Ontario.

 “Forestry and mining are the backbone of many of the communities in my riding, and indeed across Northern Ontario,” said Rickford. “Our Government understands that workers and families in these communities are facing great challenges as our resource industries go through a downturn. Today's meetings were an opportunity to hear from residents what we can do to help in the upcoming Budget.”

On January 27, 2009 Canadians will be presented with a Budget designed to guide Canada through these uncertain times. The roundtables throughout Northern Ontario are part of a country-wide effort to hear from those Canadians who are feeling first-hand the effects of slowdowns in the forestry, mining and energy sectors and solicit their views on what they would like to see in the Budget.

 “In the short time he has served as an MP, Greg has been a tremendous advocate for workers and families across his riding and across Northern Ontario,” said Anderson. “We know that workers, families and communities in Northern Ontario are facing challenging times as a result of the slowdown in the natural resource industries. That's why it was so important to come here today to hear first hand what our Government can do to help in the upcoming Budget."

Rickford shares the view of his constituent stakeholders that economic diversification in areas such as tourism, broadband and the value-added forestry industry will help sustain northwestern Ontario's economy during downturns in the forestry and mining sector cycles.

"However, forestry and mining remain core economic activities and drivers for the region and therefore must be given special and focused attention; that's why these particular roundtables with Parliamentary Secretary David Anderson are so important," concluded Rickford.