GREATER SUDBURY, ON – Host Mayor Brian Bigger was joined by Mayor Al McDonald of North Bay, Mayor Steve Black of Timmins and Mayor Christian Provenzano of Sault Ste. Marie.
Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs joined by teleconference.
The five NOLUM mayors committed to updating the Northern Priorities Paper, first drafted in 2012, to continue to advocate for Northern Ontario.
“This is a great start to long-term collaboration,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger. “Northern Ontario’s growth and prosperity will benefit the province and country. Working together provides an opportunity for future sustainability for all partners.”
“We’re looking forward to meeting with our provincial partners through our quarterly priority meetings,” said North Bay Mayor Al McDonald.
“What’s good for Thunder Bay is good for Northern Ontario and good for the province, and what’s good for Northern Ontario is good for Thunder Bay,” said Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs.
“Timmins looks forward to working with other Northern Ontario cities to continue to speak with one voice,” said Timmins Mayor Steve Black.
“I thank Mayor Bigger and Greater Sudbury for this initial meeting, and I look forward to working with my NOLUM counterparts with our provincial partners moving forward,” said Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano.
Backgrounder
As a group, the five largest centres in Northern Ontario have identified six key priority areas for focus by the Province of Ontario. These priorities are:
- Working Relationships: a renewed collaborative relationship built on consultation, direct engagement and strategic thinking, and clear and coherent support across all Provincial ministries.
- Infrastructure: sustainable funding for local and regional infrastructure, and advancement of multi-modal study for Northern Ontario.
- Energy: affordable electricity pricing for all users, and the need for a strong provincial commitment to generating facilities and energy projects in Northern Ontario.
- Workforce development: enhancement of programming for immigration, and skills development activities focused on key sectors.
- Research and innovation: enhanced funding for research and innovation activities, and increased collaboration with key stakeholder.
- Revenue sharing: fair sharing of resource revenue, and long-term stable funding sources.
