Duncan said community members told him Northern Ontario has a bullish attitude about its future but needs a partner and a friend. He said the government has attempted to fill those roles.
“My hope is through this next budget we‘ll be able to build on that,” he said.
Duncan said the future of the forestry sector was discussed and there was also a lot of excitement about the mining potential of some regions of the North such as the area known as the Ring of Fire.
“I‘ve given (Mauro) and (Gravelle) my undertaking that I will work with them through the budget to help the entire region as we move back into a firmer global economy,” he said.
“I think, given what we‘re seeing in world commodity markets, we‘re on the precipice of something really good for the North and I do believe we‘ve turned the corner.”
Duncan hinted part of the budget will address jobs. “We‘ll be talking a lot about job creation in the coming year and in the upcoming budget.
“People see growth in the economy and they wonder where the jobs are, so we have a real obligation to address jobs.‘‘
Jobs were on the mind of the Ontario Forestry Coalition.
OFC chairman Iain Angus said the province has lost 9,000 direct jobs since 2003 which translates to $680 million in wages that no longer buy goods and services in the community.
He reminded Duncan that 35 mills have been closed permanently while another 27 are closed indefinitely. That is nearly $700 million in annual revenue lost to governments and government agencies, Angus said.
And, nearly $250 million in taxes and $450 million in Hydro One and OPG revenue from Northwestern Ontario is not being collected every year.
Meanwhile, Nishnawbe-Aski Grand Chief Stan Beardy told Duncan that NAN communities must be full partners in any and all developments on NAN territory.
“We are no longer willing to sit on the sidelines of economic development in our territory,” he said.
“As development continues in our region, royalties, taxes and spinoff spending must be part of a resource revenue sharing package that my people benefit from.
“If we do not benefit, we will have no choice but to block future developments on our traditional lands,” Beardy said.