The MPP for Nipissing says despite what the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines claims, it really has a smaller budget.

The ministry says it added money to last year’s budget to rehabilitate abandoned mines.

With the work done, that one-time funding was no longer needed.

Vic Fedeli says what the ministry doesn’t tell you is it reduced earlier budgets.

The ministry says this gives the appearance of a reduced budget but Fedeli isn’t buying any of it and cites past budgets as proof.

Fedeli says the government keeps making excuses for why the MNDM budget is lower and is wondering what the next excuse will be.

(Written By: Rocco Frangione)