Duane Hicks
Local delegates sent the message to Energy minister Chris Bentley that the possible consolidation of hydro distribution companies is something the town and Fort Frances Power Corp. does not want.
Mayor Roy Avis, along with Couns. Andrew Hallikas and Paul Ryan, and Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig, spoke to Bentley in Ottawa last week during the annual conference of the Association of Ontario Municipalities.
“The issue was the review of the electricity distribution sector and what the effects would have on a small LDC [Local Distribution Company] like ours,” Mayor Avis said yesterday.
“Right now, without our power agreement, we are the third-lowest power cost in the province . . . if we were to go with any other LDCs in the area, we would be looking at a substantial cost increase,” he noted.
The mayor added the town works with the FFPC on many projects. As such, if local control of the LDC was lost, even something as simple as having the FFPC put up Christmas lights in the downtown core and Civic Centre would have to be looked at on a different basis than it is now.
“That’s something we are really, really concerned about as a municipality,” Mayor Avis stressed.
“Every meeting was important but that one [with Bentley] probably was the highest on the radar at the present time,” he later added.
The province-appointed panel, which is reviewing Ontario’s electricity sector and exploring options to improve efficiencies, could deliver its report as early as this fall.
The local delegates also met with Environment minister Jim Bradley about the costs and challenges related to recycling for northern municipalities.
“To give you an idea, it costs us about three times as much to recycle than it would be to put the product in the landfill,” said Mayor Avis.
He noted they also met with Natural Resources minister Michael Gravelle about the elimination of the provincial “BearWise” program and Linda Jeffrey, the minister responsible for seniors, regarding assisted living for Fort Frances and the availability of funding.
As well, they met with Health and Long-Term Care minister Deb Matthews about the need for primary health-care providers, particularly nurse practitioners and registered nurses, here in Fort Frances.
While these meetings allow for municipalities to have their say, Mayor Avis said the ministers didn’t commit to anything at this time.
“There’s no promises out there,” he remarked. “Right now, the province is running into some financial difficulties, to put it bluntly.”
The four delegates took in three days of panels, discussions, and keynote speeches on a variety of municipal topics led by industry experts.
They heard the leaders of all three political parties speak, and took in informative workshops about everything from public-sector pensions to accessibility issues.
Regarding the latter, Mayor Avis said he learned that in four years, there will be more Ontarians over the age of 65 than there is under 14.
As well, one-in-seven Ontarians have a disability of one sort or another.
There also was a “bear pit” session on the final day which saw 17 ministers participate.
“Generally speaking, [the conference] was very good, very well-planned, and of benefit for myself, Coun. Hallikas, Coun. Ryan, and our CAO to attend,” said Mayor Avis.
Local delegates had joined more than 1,600 participants from hundreds of municipalities across the province at the 2012 AMO conference, the theme of which was “A Capital Idea!”
The focus was on current and emerging Ontario municipal interests.
