Policing, transportation, forestry and equal funding across the province will be discussed between municipal leaders and the province this month.
Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association President Wendy Landry says they must keep presenting needs of the north at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in Toronto. “We have to educate the people in the southern part of the province, in that what works for them doesn’t work for areas in the north, one size does not fit all.” She adds they know the province hears their concerns, it’s all about presenting solutions and not whining.
More requests for northern Ontario police funding will also be made. She says while the province knows money is needed, the funding still hasn’t come. “A lot of our municipalities in the NOMA district are seeing an increase in policing costs. And I believe out of the ten top communities that have the highest policing costs in Ontario, six of them are in northwestern Ontario.”
The NOMA president says they’ll be asking the province why money is not coming despite many requests.
Snow plowing concerns in northern Ontario is another concern. “Our highway maintenance crews are not paid a lot of money to clear our highways. So if you’re offered a job at mine at a much higher wage, why would you take a job clearing highways?” Landry adds funding is needed to make the job more appealing, considering the hours and hazards of the job.
