Duane Hicks
Jobs, jobs, jobs.
That’s one of the main needs Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Don Rusnak heard from the public last week during federal pre-budget consultations held in Thunder Bay, Atikokan, Rainy River, and Couchiching First Nation.
“It’s the same in all of Canada—it’s jobs,” Rusnak replied when asked what people are asking for.
“With people working and jobs, everything else kind of flows naturally,” he reasoned.
“But in the last 10 years, we’ve been under a government that has focused on one area of the economy,” Rusnak charged.
“We need to diversify our economy,” he stressed. “We need to spend on innovation, we need to spend on our youth, and we need to provide incentives for companies to relocate into under-serviced, or as I call it under-utilized, areas of our country.”
Rusnak said Toronto is “bursting at its seams” and barely is able to keep up with its public transit.
“There’s manufacturers there that I’m sure, with the proper incentives, would be willing to set up in other regions,” he noted.
“I’d love for them to set up here in Fort Frances or in Rainy River, Atikokan, or Thunder Bay.
“But government has to provide those incentives and that’s what we’ve been hearing from the smaller communities.”
Rusnak said the public input will “inform the decisions and the policies that are coming out.”
He noted the Liberal government wants to avoid a “top-down approach,” and focus instead on listening to the problems—and solutions—coming from the public “from the ground up.”
Rusnak’s office also sought out infrastructure priority lists from area municipalities and First Nations.
“We’re really reaching out and trying to figure out how we can best serve the communities we represent,” he noted, adding Infrastructure minister Amarjeet Sohi wants to understand what the infrastructure requirements and wants are in this region.
Rusnak explained infrastructure projects sometimes are funded with a third coming from the federal government, a third from the province, and a third having to be paid by the municipal government.
The problem is smaller communities, such as Rainy River and Atikokan, can’t afford to pay for their share.
Or if they do, they’re often left with no choice to but take out a loan, and then are unable to take out another loan for another project for 10-20 years.
“That’s just unsustainable,” Rusnak stressed.
“We understand that the minister’s heard that, and they’re going to design programs that work for our small communities,” he added.
On top of that, the Northern Caucus consisting of northern Liberal MPs, such as Rusnak and Bob Nault (Kenora), are looking at ways to better deliver services and funding to communities.
Rusnak said the Liberal government is trying to change course and get Canada on a path to prosperity, but warned it’s going to take a little while and will require patience.
“I’m sure in the next couple of years, and over the long-term, this path will be prosperous for Canada,” he remarked.
The round tables were part of the nation-wide consultation launched by Finance minister Bill Morneau back on Jan. 6.
The input received will be forwarded to Morneau, who, in turn, will work with all MPs to “implement an ambitious economic agenda that reflects the kind of real change Canadians have asked their government to deliver,” according to the federal government.
In related news, Rusnak’s constituency office in Fort Frances should be open in the next month.
Rusnak said his staff is waiting for the lease agreement to be signed so it can be sent to Materiel Management, which approves the establishment of MPs offices, among other tasks.
He added the government has been very busy trying to set up offices for the 194 new MPs elected last fall.
