NDP Release Northern Platform

The New Democrats are promising to create a Northern Ontario legislative committee as part of a Northern election platform they say pays more attention to the needs of area residents and will stem the loss of jobs.
To retain jobs, the party also wants to make industrial hydro rates more competitive by expanding a program that allows companies to shift operations to lower peak times to sawmills and smaller miners.
They would also spend $300-million over 3-years to extend a Northern Ontario industrial electricity rate program, set to expire in 2013, all in exchange for job guarantees.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is also promising to re-establish an independent ministry of aboriginal affairs instead of the joint ministry that’s now in place.
She also vows to bring more doctors to remote locations, ensure that claims for trips for medial travel are processed within 30-days and purchase a PET scanner for Northern Ontario.
The NDP has already said it would take the HST off hydro and home heating fuel, make sure resources mined in Ontario are processed in the province and scrap the unpopular Far North Act.