Some optimism about what the federal budget could do for Thunder Bay.
A local federal representative and the head of Thunder Bay’s Chamber of Commerce are in agreement about the federal budget’s support for Northern Ontario projects.
Chamber President Charla Robinson says her members have high hopes now that the feds are promising to make the economic development agency FedNor independent.
“That’s something that our Chamber and all of the Chambers across northern Ontario have been advocating for over many years, so we’re pleased to see that coming to fruition,” she says.
Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski is also optimistic about what that could do for the region’s economy.
“I’m hoping that between the fact that FedNor is standalone, they’re getting more money, they’re getting money specifically for tourism, that we’re going to have more money for the tourism sector in northwestern Ontario,” Powlowski notes.
Powlowski points out the budget’s infrastructure investments could lead to work for Alstom-Bombardier.
He is also drawing attention to an Indigenous infrastructure fund that could help create more long-term care beds.
“That hopefully will help us as well because Fort William First Nation has been trying to get funding for their chronic care home, which would be 100 beds,” he explains,” adding that would take some of the load off the Regional Health Sciences Centre.
When it comes to business supports, Robinson is pleased with what she sees.
However, she is keeping her fingers crossed that the government understands it will need to be be flexible with its support.
“While businesses are pleased to see that it has been extended to September, there is certainly a concern that September may not be long enough,” she admits, adding business owners want to be sure subsidies will be in place for as long as they are needed.
