THUNDER BAY – Members of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) Board are heading to London, Ontario to address important issues with provincial ministers at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference. “There are ample opportunities in the Northwest that need the support of the government,” said David Canfield, NOMA President. “We are poised for significant growth in many areas of the region but further investment is needed especially in energy and infrastructure,” added Canfield.
In its presentation, NOMA will highlight the need for a comprehensive energy plan for the Northwest as well as discuss ongoing issues with assessments completed by MPAC, a reduction in funding from the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), concerns with policing costs, the need for investment to support infrastructure in areas of natural resources and reviewing the process for fiber allocation for companies looking to invest in forestry.
NOMA is very concerned with the reduction in funding that will impact service delivery in many communities.
“The reduction in funding negatively impacts a number of our members,” said Canfield. “This coupled with reduced property assessments on the non-residential tax base, impedes our ability to deliver the services municipalities need, added Canfield.”
The AMO Conference begins on Sunday, August 17 and concludes on Wednesday, August 20. NOMA will meet with Ministers on Tuesday morning.
