Aglukkaq says Ottawa's budget invests in North
Federal Minister points to benefits of funding, including tax credits, money for communications, more for health and industry support
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, February 17, 2014
OTTAWA
There may be a way to determine whether the federal Conservative government thinks its new budget will be popular in the North.
The office of Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq - the North's representative in the federal cabinet - was calling the media in the NWT to arrange interviews about the budget. It is unusual, to say the least, for any federal cabinet minister, and may be a sign the government thinks it has something good to talk about.
Aglukkaq talked with News/North on Feb. 13, two days after the budget was presented in the House of Commons by Finance Minster Jim Flaherty.
"The highlight for the North overall I would say, first of all, is the transfers to the territorial government continue to grow," she said. "We have not cut transfers to the provinces and the territories to balance our books, which we saw under the Martin government."
The minister noted direct transfers to the GNWT this year under the territorial formula financing arrangement is $1.2 billion.
"It's actually increased by 64 per cent since we formed the government," she said.
Aglukkaq - who is responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) - also pointed to other aspects of the budget.
"Our government made an investment of $70 million that will go towards health and that will be divided up between the three territories," she said, noting that is in addition to existing funding.
The minister also pointed to an additional $40 million to be channeled to the North through CanNor, and an extension of a mineral exploration tax credit.
Plus, Aglukkaq mentioned a new tax credit for search and rescue volunteers.
"Many, many people in the North provide this essential service in our communities, and that's recognition of the support that we receive from many volunteers," she said of the tax break.
Aglukkaq was asked about $305 million over five years to extend and enhance broadband Internet service in rural and Northern communities.
"There is a need to develop the rural and remote communities, and our government is responding to develop high-speed Internet," she said, noting it will help create jobs and opportunities for Northerners.
As the minister of environment, Aglukkaq is responsible for Parks Canada and was asked about the budget's $391.5 million over five years to improve highways, bridges and dams in national parks and along historic canals, and whether any of that money might be used for more chipsealing on Highway 5 to Fort Smith.
The spending will go to areas in most need, she said, noting Parks Canada has done an assessment and will be rolling out its plans.
The budget also allocated $28 million over two years to the National Energy Board for comprehensive and timely reviews of project applications and to support the participant funding program.
"The environmental assessment process, we have been reviewing and trying to modernize so that projects are evaluated in a timely way," said Aglukkaq, adding responsible resource development is a priority of the government. "We need to modernize our legislation and improve how we do environmental assessments."
The minister noted that, overall, the federal government is on track for a balanced budget for 2015.
"At the same time, we continue to make investments to stimulate our economy while we're reducing the tax burden on Canadians," she said.
The annual deficit is projected to decline to $2.9 billion in 2014-2015, followed by a projected surplus of $6.4 billion in 2015-2016.
Federal budget highlights
The following are highlights of particular interest to Northerners from the federal budget tabled Feb. 11 by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.
- $40 million over two years to renew the Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development Program delivered by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
- $70 million over three years for a new fund to increase health services in the three territories, and reduce reliance on outside healthcare systems and medical travel.
- $28 million over two years to the National Energy Board for comprehensive and timely reviews of project applications, and to support the participant funding program.
- $305 million over five years to extend and enhance broadband Internet service in rural and Northern communities.
- A new Search and Rescue Volunteers Tax Credit for those who perform at least 200 hours of service during the year.
- Exercising Canada's sovereignty over the North by securing international recognition of the limits of Canada's extended continental shelf, including the North Pole.
- Support for mineral exploration by junior companies by extending the 15-per-cent Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for flow-through share investors for an additional year.
- $391.5 million over five years to the Parks Canada Agency to improve highways, bridges and dams in national parks and along historic canals.
- $25 million over five years to continue efforts to reduce violence against aboriginal women and girls.
- Enhanced funding for Nutrition North Canada to help improve access to healthy food.
- Investing to reform the on-reserve education system through the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act.
- $323.4 million over two years to continue the First Nations Water and Wastewater Action Plan.
- $40 million over five years for disaster mitigation in First Nations communities.
Source: Government of Canada
