Members of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) returned from the Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference in Toronto this week where sessions reaffirmed provincial commitment to advancing priorities of the Northwest’s 37 municipalities.
Rick Dumas, NOMA president, told The Chronicle-Journal that they met with provincial ministers, associate ministers, parliamentary assistants, and opposition representatives to discuss the challenges facing rural, remote and northern communities. Among the topics discussed were infrastructure investment, transportation safety, labour and workforce development, immigration pathways, housing, and long-term economic resilience.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford recognized the importance of addressing safety and capacity challenges along highways 11 and 17 during his remarks at the conference. NOMA is an advocate for safety improvements through twinning the lanes along those highways, which form the only continuous east-west transportation corridor across Northwestern Ontario. They can be lifelines for residents, communities and industries across the region.
“For Northwestern Ontario, highways 11 and 17 are not optional infrastructure, they are essential lifelines that connect our communities, support industry, and keep people safe,” Dumas said. “NOMA’s priority is to work collaboratively with the province to ensure these corridors receive the long-term planning, investment and safety improvements they require, in a way that reflects the unique geography and economic role of Northwestern Ontario.”
Throughout the conference, NOMA representatives met with David Piccini, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development; Peter Bethlenfalvy, minister of finance; Kevin Holland, associate minister, and Ric Bresee, parliamentary assistant to the ministry of transportation.
Each of the meetings focused on areas including workforce shortages, immigration tools tailored to northern realities, and the need for sustained, equitable provincial investment in rural and remote regions.
Dumas says they also had discussions with representatives from the Ontario New Democratic Party and the Ontario Liberal Party, reinforcing the importance of cross-party collaboration on issues affecting Northern Ontario.
Fred Mota, executive vice-president of NOMA, said they left the conference energized and focused on the work ahead.
“The conversations we had reinforced that Northwestern Ontario’s challenges are well understood, and we will continue working with the province and all parties to translate that understanding into real, on-the-ground outcomes for our municipalities,” Mota said.
