FONOM talks key issues in North

The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) had “full and frank” discussions on key issues of Northern significance at its November meeting, said the organization's president. 

At its latest meeting, FONOM's executive delved into various topics, hearing from such organizations as the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), New Deal for the ONTC, and talking about such issues as Ontario parks and ATV licensing, said FONOM president Alan Spacek.

In terms of NOSM, Spacek said members heard the school is seeking a balance of skills and experience as well as demographic, cultural and geographic representation. Following their presentation, FONOM's executive urged the NOSM board to ensure that both FONOM and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association retain positions on the NOSM board, Spacek said.

New Deal for ONTC members Roy Hains, Brian Kelly, Ron Marleau and Jay Aspin, MP for Nipissing-Timiskaming, updated FONOM members on the work being done to establish a James Bay and Lowlands Ports Authority to absorb the ONTC to be operated under the Canada Marine Act.

The group is convinced that this Port Authority could save and create jobs in Northern Ontario. The creation of the new organization would mobilize the design and development of a rail link to the Ring of Fire discovery of chromium in the James Bay Lowlands. This would, in turn, promote a sustainable successor to the ONTC, Spacek said.

“FONOM is willing to be part of any solution to save the ONTC and Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren, first vice-president of FONOM, will represent FONOM’s interests working with the ‘New Deal’ team,” Spacek said.

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli also attended the meeting to explain prorogation, Spacek said.

“Mr. Fedeli commented that regulations and the day-to-day business of government can be done without parliament sitting and noted that many vacancies on provincial agencies, boards and commissions in the province are being filled during this hiatus by the government.”

The FONOM executive also spoke at length about park closures across the North.

“Our members want us to save some of the North’s provincial parks,” Spacek said. “We have been pleased by the efforts of (Ministry of Natural Resources) Minister (Michael) Gravelle and his staff, and we are cautiously optimistic about what we’ve been hearing about a possible reversal on the decision to close several of the parks.

Spacek spoke on the definition of all-terrain vehicles.

“We received a letter from the Minister of Transportation concerning ATVs. It was agreed that this correspondence be forwarded to the Provincial ATV Association, indicating that the current Highway Traffic Act is antiquated in relation to ATVs and needs modernization related to ATVs that are increasingly popular in Northern Ontario.”