Northern politicians aim for change in 2012

It's a new year, and for politicians in the northeast, that means renewed political priorities.

Federal and provincial politicians still have a few weeks before parliament resumes in Ottawa and Toronto.

But some have made New Year's resolutions to take back with them.

Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus said he wants to make Shannen Koostachins dream a reality this year. The 15-year-old from Attawapiskat fought for better education for First Nations children before she died in a car crash in 2010.

"I think 2012 will be the year that that fight for fundamental rights for school kids on reserve becomes a national issue that can't be ignored any longer," he said.

Alzheimers strategy

Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle will also pursue a cause close to his heart this year. In November, Gravelle introduced a plan for a national Alzheimers strategy a disease that runs in his family.

"We have many, many seniors right now that are falling into that age category where Alzheimers becomes an issue," he said. "We're the only G-8 country that does not have an Alzheimer's strategy."

Collaboration, job creation

Greater Sudbury's members of provincial parliament say they want 2012 to be a year of collaboration and job creation.

New Democrat France Gelinas, MPP for Nickel Belt, said her priority in the new year is to make sure the minority government works.

"It's really to look at opportunities to work together," she said. "We look at the Liberal platform, we look at ours [and] we look at the Tories. Where is it that we can work together to move things forward?"

Sustainable jobs

Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci said securing and creating jobs will be his top priority for 2012, including "initiatives that will bring real growth, real opportunity throughout 2012 and the years after that."

"We want to broaden the economic base of Sudbury with very innovative job-creation strategies," he said.

Bartolucci noted that creating meaningful and sustainable jobs across northern Ontario will be his focus as Minister of Northern Development and Mines.

The House of Commons reconvenes on Jan 30, while the Ontario legislature returns Feb. 21.