Local Look to Federal Budget

The Federal Government is pledging to fast-track the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway between Clearwater Bay and the Manitoba Border.
That was one of the promises contained in Tuesday’s budget.
Kenora MP Greg Rickford says there is also good news for aboriginal communities in the riding.
Rickford says there is a half a billion dollars ear-marked for infrastructure projects in First Nation communities.
Rickford says overall, a number of projects will be fast-tracked under the $12 billion infrastructure program, including waste-water and water treatment projects.
He notes in addition to infrastructure funding, there is a home renovation tax credit.
Other details in the Federal Budget impacting Northern Municipalities, $50-million over 5 years for a new Regional Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, $1-billion fund to help single-industry towns diversify, $8.3-billion for skills and training, including $1.5-billion in new cash to retrain workers, $500-million to replace Arena’s and School’s and $170-million over 2-years for the forest sector.