P.E.I. MP faces criticism over stand on latest ACOA minister

Lawrence MacAulay is under some criticism for his thoughts on an interesting decision made by Prime MinisterTrudeau when picking his cabinet.

The minister in charge of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is not from the Atlantic region.

MacAulay doesn't see a problem that Navdeep Singh Bains, the MP from MississaugaMalton, was appointed to the role.

"We are proud of the leadership who decided to put the cabinet together in this form and I think Navdeepdoes nothing but add to the clout in Atlantic Canada.I'm very pleased," he said.

"But of course we have 32 excellent members of Parliament from the Atlantic region and they also work with us as ministers in order to make sure we put the Atlantic Growth Strategy in play and that the people of the Atlantic region receive the benefit of it."

ButRobert Moore doesn't agree.He's the Conservative Atlantic and ACOAcritic, and has also served as ACOAminister in the former Harper government.

Moore saidhe has seen first-hand what having a minister versed in the region can do for development. It is essential to the role, he said.

"When people talk about the Fundy Trail, or someof our other tourism projects, it's important that maybe you've been there, you know what they're talking about," he said.

"I really doubt that Navdeep Singh Bains from Mississauga knows much about it, and I don't blame him, I don't know much about Mississaugamyself, but the fact of the matter is that's why the minister for a regional development agency is always from the region."

Moore can't understand why MacAulay, a member of Parliament from the region would be for the change, and doesn't understand why more MPs aren't standing up for the region.

He thinks it is part of a disturbing trend of the region being ignored, pointing to the recent conflict over Supreme Court appointments. He thinks this appointment could be the end of rural development agencies.

"This would seem like a logical first step if you're going to do away with the agency, you may do away with the minister in the region having that role to defend the interest in the region. So that remains to be seen, but the fact is as of right now today, the minister responsible for ACOA is an MP from Mississauga," he said.

"I think for a lot of people, not just those of us involved in partisan politics but for a lot of people in Atlantic Canada it just doesn't make sense."

MacAulay isholding his ground, saying the Liberal government is committedto working together, and that he has faith that Bains will do a good job.

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