Thibeault Says Budget Good For The North While Opposition Thinks Province Isn't Listening

By: Nick Liard

The latest provincial budget presents some unique opportunities for the Greater Sudbury area, according to Sudbury MPP and Minister of Energy Glenn Thibeault.

Thibeault says a 20 billion dollar capital grants program for hospital projects is a huge pool of money where he can advocate for NEO Kids and Hospice expansions.

He says there are a number of health care projects set to go in Sudbury as well, with one being a pilot project for high risk lung cancer detection.

Opposition parties were critical that the Ring Of Fire was not mentioned, but Thibeault says the money has been committed but there is still a lot of work to do through consultations with First Nations of the area.

Nickel Belt MPP France Gelinas argues it doesn’t do much for people up North, saying items in the North are cut to balance the budget.

Gelinas says once again the people in the north are the losers in the budget and the province doesn’t seem to be listening to the people, so sooner or later they will turn to somebody who will.