THUNDER BAY – Monday’s provincial cabinet shuffle placed Northern Ontario MPPs in key portfolios that could improve communication with Queen’s Park, according to regional muncipal leaders.
Coun. Joe Vidriramo chairs Thunder Bay's intergovernmental affairs committee. He sees the move to name Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro to lead the Ministry of Municipal Affairs as an opportunity for the region.
"(Mauro will) be the Minister of Municipal Affairs for the whole province but he'll have a clear understanding of the North, having been a city councilor," he said.
Housing has been peeled from the municipal portfolio and coupled with poverty reduction in the new Ministry of Housing. Virdiramo said splitting the file was the right move.
"Those are the issues here in Thunder Bay are dealing with: housing, poverty and all the other issues with munipcialities in terms of infrastructure. The Premier, by separating those has done a good thing. It tells us there's some understanding of how municipalities function and of the needs of the general communities."
Iain Angus sits on the intergovernmental affairs committee and is co-chair of the Common Voice Northwest Energy Task Force. He praised Premier Kathleen Wynne for keeping Thunder Bay-Superior-North MPP Michael Gravelle as Minister of Northern Development and Mines and for giving Mauro the municipal portfolio.
“Across the Northwest and probably the Northeast, given his past role as minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, he’s engaged with a number of municipal leaders already. I think that’s good news for the North.”
Angus is intrigued with the promotion of Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault to lead the Ministry of Energy. Common voice has been insistent over energy infrastructure leading development in the region and Angus is excited to educate a minister from Northeastern Ontario on the energy issues that impact the Northwest.
“One of the things we have to emphasize with the new minister is, it’s not just about pricing. It’s not just about where the transmission lines are. It’s not just about where the generation is. It’s about economic development. Without a robust distribution system in Northwestern Ontario, we will not advance to the degree we’re able to.”
Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association President Dave Canfield said every cabinet shuffle requires Northern leaders to educate and update new ministers but praised Monday's shuffle as leaving most portfolios that impact the north in place.
Canfield supported Wynne's choice of Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti as Minister of Correctional Services and keeping Toronto-Centre MPP Glen Murray on as Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
He was also eager to work with a new energy minister.
"Things were getting pretty stale there," Canfield said.
"(Bob) Chiarelli went to infrastructure. I hope he listens better there. He's been around for a long time and sometimes you get complacent. I look forward to bringing him up to speed with roads and bridges and infrastructure."
