Chiefs of Ontario Focused on Action

THUNDER BAY – Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day is on a number of missions. There are a number of key issues the Ontario Regional Chief is working on. Several of those issues are based out of the growing need in Thunder Bay for some needed change.

The ORC is planning a meeting, facilitated by Lakehead University’s new TRC Co-coordinator the meeting is to be a four-cornered table with the four levels of government present.

The Ontario Regional Chief is deeply concerned over the plight of homeless people in Thunder Bay and in how they are treated. The Chiefs of Ontario are looking toward building on a program called Homeland Reconnect to effect some positive change.

Over the past year, the Chiefs of Ontario have brought several successes forward, including a new Political Accord with Ontario.

The Speech from the Throne has the attention of the Chiefs of Ontario. ORC Day states that “The one issue facing Ontario is the grinding poverty on First Nations”.

Day believes that the provinces direction to focus on the high cost of hydro will make a positive impact on that concern.

Resource revenue sharing is very important to First Nation communities as well. Putting in place a balanced program is one of the focused goals for Chiefs of Ontario.

“The Ontario Government needs to be concerned about the grinding poverty in the north”, states Day. The issues facing First Nation communities in Ontario all circle around the issue of poverty.

Moving forward, on the provincial side, ORC Day says that there are twenty months left in the mandate for Premier Wynne and in many ways the last ten months are likely to be more focused on heading toward the next provincial election. That means there must be a greater focus and commitment to change and to action.