THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro received an opportunity Tuesday to give the provincial government some input regarding priorities for the Fall 2020 Ontario budget.
As part of the government's consultative process, the parliamentary assistant to Finance Minister Rod Phillips hosted a virtual discussion.
According to a statement from Mauro's office, he raised the issue of the precarious status of Thunder Bay's Bombardier plant.
Mauro stressed the need for a provincial/federal funding agreement for mass transit projects that would lead to new work at the plant.
The statement said he also pushed the province to consider the needs of municipalities in several other areas, including:
- operating funding to offset 2021 COVID-19 costs and lost revenues
- infrastructure funding
- funding for additional hires for long-term care and to cover increased costs associated with COVID-19
"This was an important opportunity to advocate for our community's needs to the ministry of finance," Mauro said.
"We were fortunate to be able to discuss critical community issues, and to have an opportunity to make Thunder Bay's issues and priorities front and centre."
The government's next fiscal update will be a multi-year provincial budget to be delivered no later than Nov. 15.
