Echoing the oft-heard economic development debates heard at council sessions throughout the area, the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce will push for government programs to assist with development in the north.
During its annual meeting in Kenora last weekend, NOACC passed numerous resolutions supporting economic development incentives and enhancements.
“We had a series of resolutions in that regard,” noted Tannis Drysdale of Fort Frances, who was elected president of NOACC.
“The process of the resolutions does not mean one main focus,” she noted. “Recently, however, we believe there is some indication the province of Ontario is interested in providing tools to help businesses either locate here or grow here.”
One resolution passed by the NOACC is to request a Ministry of Economic Development and Trade office be established in Northwestern Ontario.
Members also voted to continue to pursue a solution to the shortage of physicians and other health-care workers in Northwestern Ontario, and seek assistance for small communities struggling to keep up with new water regulations.
In total, 14 resolutions were passed at last weekend’s meeting, including:
•to enhance innovation and competition;
•resolutions to push for continued maintenance and improvements to secondary highways and implement a long-term plan for area roadways;
•to push for tourism offices across Northwestern Ontario to stay open beyond the high-impact tourism season;
•to push for the implementation of community investment funds;
•to ensure federal venture funds paid by residents here are used here;
•to maintain channel markers and buoys; and
•to fight the implementation of a new airport transit fee at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
NOACC members also agreed to continue to work on a viable plan to accommodate all of the snowmobile clubs and regions in the area.
“Snowmobiling is an extremely sensitive area–the solutions are different community to community,” noted Drysdale. “It was suggested and approved that a snowmobiling task force, working out of Marathon’s Chamber of Commerce, be formed.”
NOACC is an registered provincial lobby organization which represents 14 community Chambers of Commerce and more than 2,000 businesses in Northwestern Ontario.
Drysdale, as president for 2001-02, will be joined on the NOACC executive by president-elect Barry Streib of Thunder Bay, vice-president Mike Shusterman of Land of the Nipigon, and vice-president/finance Jason Nesbitt of Aguasabon.
The past president is Jon Christianson of Thunder Bay.
“The truly exceptional wealth of our communities is our citizens,” Drysdale noted in her speech to members.
“The many small business owners that belong to our Chambers who support financially every sporting event or festival anyone could have possibly dreamt up, who work tirelessly on committees, boards, councils, associations, and non-profit groups.
“I am very excited about this organization’s plans for the next year,” she added. “We intend to diversify our lobbying strategy into the future to include the new tools that technology has given us such as e-advocacy.
“[We also want] to return to the success of our past by again visiting Queen’s Park to listen and to talk to decision-makers at the legislature.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
