Russell Pleased With Passage of Infrastructure Motion

OTTAWA, June 9, 2009 — Labrador MP Todd Russell is pleased with yesterday’s passage by the House of Commons of his Private Member’s Motion concerning infrastructure in northern Canada.

M-298 calls on the government to “work co-operatively with the governments of the territories and of the seven provinces which constitute the Provincial North, and with Aboriginal and local governments in these regions, to develop a strategy to improve transportation and other vital public infrastructure.”

“I was especially pleased that I was able to convince the Conservatives and NDP to vote in favour of this measure,” Russell said. “There are people in northern parts of Canada represented by all four of the major parties, and it’s good to see that they were able to put party politics aside and support a Liberal motion.”

The motion passed, opposed only by the Bloc Québécois, in a vote on Monday.

“I hope that this will be one more message to the Conservative government that northern parts of the country, from the Territories through to the remote northern regions of the provinces, need special infrastructure consideration,” Russell said. “We need co-operation between all levels of government, and a faster flow of infrastructure spending, especially given our shorter construction season.”

“Our needs are great, and all Labradorians, like others in northern regions need action need action now.”

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Todd Russell, MP

Labrador

(613) 996-4630