City council spent Tuesday night dreaming and brainstorming about the Thunder Bay’s next decade.
Under banners of economy, environment, governance and lifestyle, council split into four groups to discuss what it wants for the city over the next ten years and what can be done over the next four years to achieve those goals as part of the city’s next strategic plan.
"Good ideas are coming out and we’re kind of narrowing it down to our favourites now," mayor Keith Hobbs said.
One idea for the economy is to eventually have $1.5 billion invested from the mining sector and double the current $350 million from that sector in the next four years. Hobbs said shifting the Thunder Bay brand to attract business away from historic mining centres like Timmins and Sudbury is key.
"If we re-brand and we attract companies to Thunder Bay we can be a big service industry area for mining," Hobbs said.
Hobbs said attracting business will bring jobs and expand the tax-base, another key area identified in the session.
"I think it’s realistic," Hobbs said.
And with public consultations next month, Hobbs said he’s looking forward to hearing what the communities priorities are. Where he used to hear negativity, Hobbs said he’s seeing a change in people’s perception of the city.
"I think you’re seeing a transition from a negative community to a very positive one right now. I’m seeing it," said Hobbs.
Coun. Rebecca Johnson is also looking forward to the public consultations. She said whole council might not have an answer as to where the city should be in the next decade, the strategic plan is a starting point.
"If you don’t dream you’ll never get anywhere," Johnson said. "I think some of the ideas that haven been put forward are quite exciting."
Public consultation meetings will be held Apr. 13 at the DaVinci Centre and Apr. 14 at the Italian Cultural Centre. Both meetings start at 6:30 p.m.
