Where is the Premier? delegate asks at FONOM convention.

Long-time Liberal supporter Mike Doody puts Northern minister on the spot

By Len Gillis / The Timmins Times

Updated 7 hours ago

Ontario Northern Development minister Michael Gravelle spoke for a good 30 minutes in Timmins Friday to convince Northern municipal leaders that his Liberal government is doing everything it can to support Northern Ontario.

Gravelle focused on what he called the wealth of economic development opportunities for the region that he said has increased greatly since the Liberals came to power in 2003.

Gravelle was the wrap-up speaker at the annual convention of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, held at the McIntyre Community Building.

Although clearly half of the delegates had decided to skip the lunch and prepare for their respective trips home, at least 100 delegates were still on hand to hear Gravelle defend his government. This was one day after Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak had won applause from many of the same delegates after telling them that Dalton McGuinty's Liberals had totally ignored the North.

WHERE IS THE PREMIER?

Indeed when it came time in Gravelle's presentation to take questions from the floor, veteran Timmins city councillor and long-time Liberal supporter Mike Doody offered one of the toughest comments of the day.

"I've said this at every FONOM conference, and I think you know what's coming, we're disappointed the premier is not here," said Doody. The room went silent.

"We need to hear from the premier, that he is a supporter of Northern Ontario," said Doody.

The room erupted into applause.

Gravelle, agreed with the statement, "The premier would have loved to have been here," he said.

He added that Dalton McGuinty is a solid supporter of Northern Ontario.

"I could give examples, but I have to be careful you know that I don't break cabinet solidarity with examples. But the premier has been certainly the one who has been standing up for the North stronger than anybody else," he said.

"I think one of the challenges of being the premier is that you're representing all of the people. He certainly has an extraordinary concern for Northern Ontario. We'd like to have him all over the place and I'd love to have him here too. But Mike, I will pass your best wishes along to him with your request."

Dalton McGuinty has not visited Timmins in any official capacity since he became Premier in 2003

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