Liberal leader visits Arctic
Increases to Nutrition North promised
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, October 12, 2015
IQALUIT
In the final days of a 78-day election period, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau made a brief appearance in Iqaluit to support Nunavut candidate Hunter Tootoo on Oct. 10.
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau speaks in Iqaluit on Oct. 10. - Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo |
He also took the opportunity to make specific in-person commitments - in Iqaluit and in Yellowknife the day before - building upon his earlier, information-gathering trips to those capitals in January.
Conservative candidate Leona Aglukkaq, acknowledging Trudeau's visit, released a strongly-worded open letter timed to correspond with his arrival in the territory.
"You can explain why you have opposed investments that will lower the cost of living, improve our infrastructure and create employment opportunities for Nunavummiut," the letter states, going on to criticize the Liberal party for past votes against a variety of Conservative legislation, such as an $11-million increase in funding to the Nutrition North Canada program, the new Iqaluit port and small craft harbour and the Pond Inlet small craft harbour.
Trudeau's Northern promises included a pledge to increase funding to Nutrition North by $40 million over four years, $10 million each year, if he is elected.
"For 10 years, Stephen Harper has been staging his annual photo op in the North, trying to bolster his public image, while ignoring the glaring problems with the Nutrition North program, and failing to help Canadians living in these communities in any real, lasting way," Trudeau said to a shivering crowd gathered at Rotary Park in Apex. "We understand that living in the North is expensive and we will make sure that Northern families have access to affordable, healthy food."
He said his party will "work with Northern and remote communities to make sure the program is more transparent, more effective and more accountable."
In Yellowknife, the day before his Iqaluit visit Trudeau promised a 33-per-cent increase to the Northern Residents Deduction to a maximum of $22 a day, indexed to inflation.
The tax deduction has not increased in the past decade, Tootoo has pointed out during the campaign.
"Everyone in this country deserves a real and fair chance to succeed," said Trudeau. "This country needs investment now."
Trudeau said the Liberal version of the Child Benefit would deliver extra support to those who need it most, single-parent families and low-income families.
