Kenora-area MP Greg Rickford is on the defensive this week for opposing a bill that would establish FedNor as a permanent regional economic development agency for Northern Ontario.

The private member’s bill C-309, tabled by Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota (Lib) has progressed to third reading, passing a vote last week with a count of 149-134.

Northern Ontario conservative MPs Rickford and Tony Clement have been vocal opponents of the proposed legislation, calling it a ‘bureaucratic make-work project to re-name FedNor’ and attacking the opposition coalition that has lent its support to the bill.

“…it’s an insult to have the Bloc (Quebecois) forcing a bill on Northern Ontarians that will turn FedNor on its head, right as our economy struggles to emerge from the worst recession in decades,” said Rickford.

Rota links Rickford and Clement’s opposition to the bill to their party’s views, rather than the needs of their constituents.

“Bill C-309 is about making sound investments in people, knowledge, modern infrastructure, and a sound and efficient financial sector in order to provide the foundation for global success.  We are looking for stable funding that will allow communities throughout Northern Ontario to maintain the same standards as larger urban centres,” said Rota. “Sadly, Tony Clement, Greg Rickford, and their Conservative colleagues have tried to buck this legislation every step of the way. The people of Northern Ontario want to know why time and time again the Conservatives continue to turn their backs on our region.”

Rickford says that FedNor will continue to support the region, regardless of legislative  efforts to change its structure.

“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,” said Rickford. “What I can’t understand is why, for 13 years, the former Liberal government celebrated FedNor and its achievements and the second Mr. Rota leaves government he thinks it’s time for a name change, it’s just puzzling.”