NDP leader Howard Hampton is disgruntled with the provincial government for not spending $44 million in leftover Northern Ontario heritage funds on telecommunications, sewer and water infrastructure and other economic development projects in the North. This spring's provincial budget indicated only $53 million of a budgeted $97 million was spent in Northern Ontario. Hampton, who accused the government of setting the money aside for a pre-election slush fund, is calling on provincial auditor Erik Peters to look into the matter. Ministry of Northern Development and Mines officials indicate there is a time lag between project approvals and completion, adding money is only paid out when projects are completed. They further say more than $120 million is allocated to projects once the applications are processed.
