Rickford offers state of the union address in Kenora
News
Investments include twinning the Trans-Canada, improving the water system to Keewatin and upgrading the Port of Kenora at the Harbourfront
Posted By Mike Aiken
Posted 1 month ago
The millions being spent on stimulus projects around the riding will help to lay the foundation for future prosperity. This was the message from Kenora MP Greg Rickford, as he addressed local Rotarians Monday.
These investments include twinning the Trans-Canada, improving the water system to Keewatin and upgrading the Port of Kenora at the Harbourfront, he noted. With the prime minister and senior members of cabinet continuing to visit the region, he said it was realistic to compare tourism opportunities in the Lake of the Woods area to those more established destinations in the Muskokas, Mount Tremblant or Banff.
"We have the attention of the Conservative government," he said, noting the prime minister has visited the riding five times within two and a half years.
Forestry continues to be a priority as Rickford said he was working with provincial cabinet minister Michael Gravelle of Thunder Bay on tenure reform. Rickford hoped to see details of the new system within six months to a year, and the MP was optimistic such changes would help ease tensions surrounding wood rights and the access to supply.
Border issues raised by an American guest are the biggest issue for his office, Rickford said, acknowledging it is an international policy issue, which isn't going to be resolved in the near future. However, he did say he would be receiving senior federal ministers Jason Kenney and Vic Toews, who might be able to help resolve some long-standing irritants that might be specific to the area.
When it came to working with First Nations, the MP said the comprehensive and inclusive approach to the stimulus spending was working very well, with projects on schedule and budgets being adhered to, with some exceptions due to higher labour costs.
In a partisan crowd, audience member Doug Johnson said Rickford's speech reminded him of the late Leo Bernier, Emperor of the North, when he was in provincial politics.
