Northern Development Minister Defends Institute

The governing Liberals says it’s the NDP who are out of touch when it comes to the Northern Policy Institute.
Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says the province should instead set up an all-northern Ontario committee at Queen’s Park to solicit northern input.
Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci says the Institute is what northerners want.
Bartolucci says the one thing that was made loud and clear during consultations was the establishment of such an Institute.
He says the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association all called for an independant body.
Campbell says it’s also wrong to take $5-million out of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to set up the Institute.