Niki Ashton is calling for better from Ottawa in 2019 when it comes to the north.

The NDP MP says that last year, our region faced job losses, the shutdown of critical infrastructure and continues to face an ongoing housing crisis. She says we also saw people and communities facing huge challenges in dealing with inadequate health care and education funding.

Ashton noted that the rail line to Churchill, as well as the port of Churchill, are now once again up and running, but only because of a northern partnership.

She said that closure of the smelter and refinery in Thompson was met with silence from the provincial and federal governments, and that the same reaction was given to potential closure of the mine in Flin Flon in 2021. Ashton pointed out the contrast between the complete lack of support for our region, and the billion dollars plus bail out for the oil industry.

She added that regions like ours produce much of the wealth of this country and that we deserve better.