Provenzano hosts regional platform chinwag

NEWS RELEASE

CHRISTIAN PROVENZANO

************************* Provenzano hosts regional platform consultation

The Liberal Party of Canada is developing a regional specific policy platform for Northern Ontario.

As a part of that process, Anthony Rota, the member of Parliament for Nipissing - Timiskaming, and Andy Mitchell, former member of Parliament for Parry Sound-Muskoka (1993-2006), minister of state for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (2005-2006), minister of agriculture and agri-food (2004-2006) and minister of Indian affairs and northern development (2003–2004), are doing platform consultations across Northern Ontario.

Christian Provenzano, the Liberal candidate for Sault Ste. Marie & Area, hosted a platform consultation last night in Sault Ste. Marie.

Christian, Anthony and Andy met with municipal, business and social leaders from Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding communities for a roundtable discussion.

The participants had a productive discussion which canvassed municipal infrastructure needs, educational and business opportunities, agricultural opportunities, and some regional challenges that require federal partnership.

"Political parties and candidates have a responsibility to bring people together, to listen and to act. We will get farther, and accomplish more, if we work together," said Provenzano. "I really appreciated everyone's participation and their input. It is invaluable and I am sure it will inform our Northern Ontario platform."

The Liberal Party of Canada has a history of commitment to Northern Ontario, having created the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor) allocating in excess of 50 million dollars per year for Northern Ontario's development.

"Public policy to be effective needs to be a bottom-up process. Effective initiatives are normally those which have been crafted by people whose daily experience have informed them of what works well in their communities,” said Andy Mitchell.

In addition to Sault Ste. Marie, Andy and Anthony have held consultations in Kapuskasing, Timmins, Thunder Bay and they are continuing on to hold consultations in Sudbury and North Bay.

"The trip has been a very productive grassroots consultation. I am confident our regional platform will be solid and resonate with the citizens of Northern Ontario, in no small part due to Sault Ste. Marie's contribution. It was both thorough and insightful," concluded Rota.

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