Rookie MP Rickford speaks candidly with Dryden Rotarians
Posted by John Borst
on Jan 23, 2011
Greg Rickford was elected to Canada’s 40th Parliament as the Member for Kenora in the fall of 2008.
He is a member of the House of Commons Standing Committees on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. He also Chairs the All Party Tourism Caucus for the 40th Parliament.
He is a member of the House of Commons Standing Committees on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. He also Chairs the All Party Tourism Caucus for the 40th Parliament.Rickford first moved to the region in 1992 working as a nurse, healthcare consultant and lawyer. His background in healthcare includes working directly with First Nations people living in remote communities.
Greg gave us an overview as to
where we were and where we are headed, pointing out that we need capacity for sustainability and growth. As an example he described how the Stimulus Program provided funds for the city’s new sewage treatment plant so that the city could expand and grow.
MP Rickford acknowledged there were serious forestry issues that had to be addressed. In that regard, he emphasized that the federal government had provided Domtar's Dryden mill with $22.7 million in federal funding under the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program (PPGTP) to increase the mill’s operational efficiencies and its production of green, clean electricity.
Greg Rickford then entertained a number of questions from Rotarians and guests on issues as diverse as hydro rates, jails, child care funding, health care, twinning of Highway 17, and economic diversification.
A comment by Rtn Bob Sherrock that the behaviour of Parliamentarians during question period was totally juvenile and that attack ads were disgusting drew applause from many.