Campbell highlights the creation of a legislative committee that would review all bills with an impact on the North as a key component Northern Communities have asked for. “We have been saying for years that we want a voice and for years Liberal and Conservative governments have ignored our concerns. This committee would ensure a northern voice is considered on all policy decisions that impact that north,” Campbell asserts.
“Other key points include ensuring that First Nations are consulted and benefit from all industrial activity on their traditional lands, a commitment to ensure all natural resources extracted from the north are processed in the north, relief from rising hydro prices for businesses and families, and much needed relief from the crippling Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), which the Federal Conservatives and Provincial Conservatives imposed on the north without considering its horrible impact for families and small businesses”.
“The Harmonized Sales Tax has had a disastrous effect on the north. Families that were already struggling to pay their bills because of years of neglect had even less money for food and warmth. Businesses have been forced to the brink of bankruptcy due to cross border shopping and higher costs,” she explained. “The NDP warned that this tax would have that effect on the north and neither the Liberals or Conservatives bothered to listen.”
Ultimately, Campbell says the most important thing is that the NDP is bringing forward a plan that listened to northern leaders. “Only NDP leader Andrea Horwath has shown northern Ontario the respect it deserves,” she notes. “She has been in Kenora-Rainy River many times and has sat an listened listened to leaders in all of our communities. This truly is a plan that is for the north and from the north.”
The full plan can be viewed on Campbell’s official website.
