As we being to track government spending announcements since the election of the 41st Parliament, I thought it might be worthwhile to review my #ottawaspends database for some data on spending announcements during the 40th Parliament, with a particular focus on the spending habits of the country’s regional development ministers.
There are six regional development departments or agencies, one each for Atlantic Canada, Quebec, southern Ontario, northern Ontario, Canada’s north and the four western provinces.
Here’s some summary data from the 40th Parliament:
- While Denis Lebel was minister for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Region, we tracked 39 announcements which put $24.5 million into his riding of Roberval-Lac St. Jean. Lebel is still the minister for CED.
- While Keith Ashfield was minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, we tracked 28 announcements which put $20 million into his riding of Fredericton (NB). In the 41st Parliament, ACOA is now the responsibility of New Brunswicker Bernard Valcourt.
- The minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency during the last Parliament was Chuck Strahl and then John Duncan, both of whom represented B.C. ridings, neither of which are in CANNOR’s catchment area of the three northern Canada ridings. Nunavut MP (and health minister) Leona Aglukkaq is now responsible for CANNOR.
- While Lynne Yelich was the minister for Western Economic Diversification, we tracked 10 announcements which put $16.8 million into her riding of Blackstrap (SK). Yelich is still the minister for WD.
- While Gary Goodyear was minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, we tracked 3 announcements which put $3.8 million into his riding of Cambridge (ON). Goodyear is still still the FEDDEV minister.
- While Tony Clement was minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Initiatives for Northern Ontario, we tracked 3 announcements from that department which put $1.1 million into his riding of Muskoka-Parry Sound (ON). Clement continues to be the FEDNOR minister.
Again: These amounts are funds that only came from the minister’s department. The famous $50 million G8 money that went to Clement’s riding, for example, came from another department for which Clement was not the minister.