Manitoba Conservative Caucus Visits Northern Manitoba

BRANDON, August 25, 2010 – Merv Tweed, MP for Brandon-Souris joined a group of Senators, Ministers and Members of Parliament of the Manitoba Conservative Caucus on a comprehensive tour of Northern Manitoba.  The visit gave caucus members a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the north.

“This first hand tour of the North has once again highlighted the importance of this region for the Manitoban and Canadian economies and their way of life,” said Tweed.  “It provided our caucus with a fundamental understanding of this region, its people, its challenges and opportunities.”

The visit began with an announcement in Thompson, Manitoba by the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety of $8,670,350 for the Thompson Airport Authority and $478,444 for the Flin Flon Airport, through Transport Canada’s Airport Capital Assistance Program (ACAP).  While in Thompson, caucus members also met with local residents at a “meet and greet” event, Thompson city council and Chamber of Commerce representatives, and toured the new jet engine test site facility.

Caucus then continued on to Churchill, Manitoba by Via Rail and met with the Hudson Bay Railway on the train.  In Churchill, caucus met with community members over two days.  This included meetings with the Port of Churchill residents to discuss the gun registry, Churchill city council, and Parks Canada representatives at the Prince of Wales Fort.  Caucus members concluded with a meeting with Chief Joseph Dantouze of the Northlands Denesuline First Nation to discuss issues important to Aboriginal communities in the North.

“Our Government has provided unprecedented investments in Northern Manitoba and Northern Canada, said Tweed. “I was pleased to visit these Northern Manitoba communities and assure that our support will continue into the future.”