Ontario's New Democrats are continuing to lambast the provincial budget unveiled by the Progressive Conservative government last week.
Speaking in Question Period on Monday, Algoma-Manitoulin's NDP MPP, Michael Mantha, criticized the budget as "bad news for the North, to say the least".
Premier Doug Ford only responded that he had prayed for NDP Leader Andrea Horwath at that morning's prayer breakfast - with Mantha retorting "with this premier, we need a miracle" before pressing on passenger rail in the North - like the Northlander and the former Algoma Central Railway between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst - though Northern Development and Mines Minister Greg Rickford accused Mantha of misleading and misguiding - a claim he was forced to withdraw, as per rules of the legislature.
Rickford further noted a minister from Northern Ontario prepared the budget - Finance Minister Vic Fedeli represents Nipissing - and highlighted the new Northern Ontario Internship Program, new transit opportunities for the North, and new incentives for the forestry and mining industries.