Good growth? Northern leaders, ministers talk Growth Plan

A high-profile group of municipal, provincial and First Nations leaders gathered at Sault Ste. Marie's Delta Hotel Thursday morning to discuss the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario.

The long-range, 25-year Growth Plan for Northern Ontario was announced by the province in 2011, designed to diversify northern Ontario’s traditional resource-based economy with development of new sectors, investment and entrepreneurship.

There has been criticism the plan has stalled, but Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Sault MPP and Minister of Government and Consumer Services David Orazietti say the fact discussions continue is in itself a good sign.

"We had a fruitful discussion this morning around a number of issues that are of concern to all of us, including the multimodal strategy as well as areas of mining and agriculture and forestry discussion as well…I think what we shared today really reflects the common concerns we have as northern leaders and the priorities we will continue to raise with the Premier and the federal government as well," Orazietti said.

"We hope to move forward and deliver real tangible results for residents of Northern Ontario and for our respective constituencies," Orazietti said, while not going into specific detail.

"You're going to hear some very good news in the next number of months around Northern Ontario Heritage initiatives that we will be moving forward with in our community and it ties in well with the Growth Plan," Orazietti said.

"We had updates on where the multimodal transportation strategy is at (something of particular interest to Sault Ste. Marie)…it's moving forward to the point in terms of where it will be able to help us to make recommendations to our cabinet colleagues as to where the priority spending needs to be made and why," Gravelle said.

"Today was about team building for me," said Sault mayor Christian Provenzano.

"We had some great discussions today about agriculture, multimodal transportation and discussions on how to improve the lot of Northern Ontario."

The Port of Algoma was not an official agenda item for Thursday's meeting, but the project was discussed and Sault politicians agreed it is a priority.

Meeting with Gravelle, Orazietti and Provenzano were Kapuskasing Mayor Alan Spacek, Serpent River First Nation Chief Isadore Day, Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield, Timmins Mayor Steve Black, Tim Pile, Secretary-Treasurer of the Metis Nation of Ontario, and Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger.

North Bay Mayor Al McDonald joined the discussion by teleconference.

Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs was unable to attend.

"I'm interested in getting updated on the progress of the Plan, and we are constantly looking to the provincial government for funding," said Brian Bigger, Sudbury mayor.

"The intermodal transportation study is important to us…(in addition to) mining and the progress on mining research and development and moving towards the Ring of Fire."

"We've received funding from the different grant opportunities (from the province)…I think we're happy with the progress that's being made," Bigger said.