Duane Hicks
Local delegates will have the chance to speak with provincial officials on important issues during the 2010 Ontario Good Roads Association/Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference Feb. 21-24 in Toronto.
Mayor Roy Avis will be attending, along with Couns. Ken Perry and Andrew Hallikas and Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig.
The conference, which this year follows the theme “On the Road to Recovery,” will include speeches from the leaders of the three provincial political parties, a ministerial forum (or “bear pit” session), and presentations on a number of topics, ranging from schools closures, First Nations’ consultation, and building “green” to rural economic development, the HST, and Mining Act amendments.
But a big benefit of local delegates going there is the chance to speak face-to-face with various ministers or their parliamentary assistants.
For instance, Mayor Avis said he and the others will have meetings with the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs.
They will speak with the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry and Ministry of Transportation regarding the status of the “Connecting Link” funding the town has received annually for road repairs (such as the work on Central Avenue in recent years).
“If there’s not going to be ‘Connecting Link’ funding, what’s the alternative for us to support our road system in the community?” Mayor Avis wondered.
The mayor said they’ll also be talking about the acquisition of Sunny Cove Camp and how the town can secure funding to upgrade it, recycling costs and challenges for Northern Ontario communities, and the Pither’s Point Park lease, which continues to be in negotiation.
“We’re going to have a very busy time,” Mayor Avis said.
Speaking more generally about the OGRA/ROMA conference, the mayor called the event an excellent opportunity to hear from a range of politicians.
“For instance, during the ministerial forum they have—they used to call it a ‘bear pit session’—there’s questions from the floor that pertain to all the municipalities, so you get a very good view of the minister’s opinion at that time,” he explained.
“You get a feel for what’s going on.”
Mayor Avis admitted the local delegates will be on somewhat of a “whirlwind tour.”
“We don’t go until Sunday, we’re down for Monday, Tuesday, a half-day Wednesday, and then we’re back in Fort Frances on Wednesday night,” he noted.
Couns. John Albanese, Paul Ryan, Sharon Tibbs, and Rick Wiedenhoeft are remaining here so they can have a quorum for Monday night’s regular council meeting.
