http://www.ontla.on.ca/house-proceedings/transcripts/files_pdf/29-NOV-2016_L036.pdf
Mr. Patrick Brown: Back to the minister: The Côté
Gold Project is reflective of this government’s contempt
for the north and their failure to get projects moving. Just
look at the Ring of Fire. The press releases from 2012
were written as if the chromite mine was a done deal. It
touted thousands of jobs coming to northern Ontario and
has quotes from five ministers, including the current
Premier, that the deal was done. The release was followed by years of empty, empty promises. The failure to act
on the Ring of Fire is an embarrassment for this government. It has been years since the Ring of Fire hasn’t
moved forward at all. Now the Côté Gold Project is experiencing the same neglect, the same red tape.
When will this government finally commit to making
sure the incredible potential of the north is seized? We
don’t need any more delays. We don’t need more red
tape. We want this government to support northern mining opportunities. Can I have a justification from the
minister?
Hon. Glen R. Murray: We have a working committee in cabinet, led by the Minister of Northern
Development and Mines, specifically working on this.
But I find this passing strange coming from a former
federal member who, when we were twinning northern
highways, spending five times what that government did
in the north—500% more twinning highways—never
even raised a peep. We had no federal matching money:
90% of northern highways are paid for by the government of Ontario—not a red cent or a word from the
member opposite. He sat back while money poured into
Alberta for the oil sands, no investment in green energy,
no investment in the Ring of Fire. Nothing. He was a
member from Alberta for the amount of good he was to
us in Ontario, and now he has the nerve to criticize the
government that is paying—
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. Be
seated, please.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): We’re still on
warnings.
New question, the member from Bramalea–Gore–
Malton
