Sault Civic Centre

SAULT STE. MARIE - The mayors from across Northern Ontario are prepared to step up their action in the hopes of convincing the federal government to improve FedNor for the sake of all the North.

Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano hosted the Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors meeting in Sault Ste. Marie Wednesday.

Mayors from Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timmins, gathered in the Sault to discuss issues with its funding agencies, FedNor and Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. (NOHFC), as well as topics that affect all the communities, including rising energy prices, Ring of Fire development and the Municipal Property Assessment Corp. North Bay's mayor joined the conversation by telephone conference.

Provenzano said FedNor topped the discussion at the meeting and the top elected officials have said they're going to elevate the discussion about FedNor.

He said the mayors want to go to the Northern Ontario Liberal Caucus and have a discussion directly with the region's federal members of Parliament.

He believes the point will hit home with seven of the 10 Northern Ontario members part of the government, the group believes that they will lead a sympathetic ear to the position.

“We want to reiterate in person the position we took in our paper and just really advocate for the importance of FedNor as a vehicle to develop Northern Ontario,” Provenzano said.

The group believes that if the federal government looks toward the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund as a model, a transformation of FedNor would be beneficial for the North.

“The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund does a lot of great work in Ontario. We think it can be used as a model to advocate federally and we would like to see FedNor partner more closely with the NOHFC,” Provenzano said.

Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs said he will present the paper to cabinet ministers from his riding next week.

“I hope that we get the traction to mirror the NOHFC,” Hobbs said.

Hobbs is also awaiting the soon-to-be-released road study for the Ring of Fire Development and is the community closest to the mining development. 
The NOLUM group was created years ago and brings the mayors of Northern Ontario's five largest municipalities together twice a year to discuss issues and advocate for common to the communities.

The last meeting focused on energy costs.

“The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund is an agency that is creating opportunities and we really think FedNor can assist,” Provenzano said.

Last month, NOLUM sent a letter and position paper to members of the federal Northern Ontario Liberal Caucus regarding concerns they have about FedNor.

No formal response to the position paper has been received by any of the mayors at this point, Provenzano said.

The mayors agreed FedNor's efficiency has been constrained by issues at the policy and operational levels, mostly due to lack of resources and insufficient autonomy.

The mayors also noted that Northern Ontario has its share of economic challenges, including outmigration, an aging labour force and an over-reliance on resource-dependent industries and needs financial assistance.

NOLUMs position paper states budgetary reductions have constrained the program and ultimately community applications that led to infrastructure and economic development.

In some years, the report states, lost funding amounts have not been restored and during other years the program has not disbursed its full budget, all resulting in inability to support the North's development.

The mayors also believe that FedNor lacks the fiscal and human resources that its counterpart regional economic agencies have available. Declining staff numbers -- about 31 per cent since 2010 – have resulted in less programming in Northern Ontario, the mayors conclude.

NOLUM also argues that a more autonomous FedNor could result in better strategic directions, ensuring budgeted money got spent on worthy applications to help development in the North.

The mayors are also asking the elected officials to increase FedNor's budget to $100 million annually, grant it full agency status and streamline the existing application process.

The mayors also look for common opportunities for their communities. They have examined the Northern Ontario Growth Plan and opportunities related to multi-modal transportation and mining potentials, especially with the future Ring of Fire development.

Timmins Mayor Steve Black said all the leaders are focused on job and population growth in their communities, so the focus tends to revolve around those areas.

“Hopefully, we see some traction with FedNor put forward,” he said.

They also recognize college and universities are an important part of a community's growth and it's important for higher levels of government to recognize that they can play an integral part in the economic development of Northern Ontario, said Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger.

http://www.saultstar.com/2016/11/02/northern-leaders-contend-programs-potency-compromised-by-rash-of-factors