Mayor-elect Keith Hobbs says turning Thunder Bay from a forestry town to a mining centre isn't such a bad idea.
Hobbs became familiar with his office at Thunder Bay City Hall on Wednesday, five days before he’s officially sworn in at the next city council meeting on Monday.
"It’s hectic already sifting through all the paperwork but I’m excited about it," Hobbs said about his first day in the office.
The first order of business was to start working toward economic development. He said the city needed to become more engaged in the mining sector, especially when it came to projects that involved the Ring of Fire area.
"We really need to develop this city," he said. "If we need to turn this city from forestry to mining so be it. I don’t think that’s a bad idea."
While the mining sector could be important to shape Thunder Bay’s economy, Hobbs said the city also needed to look at other avenues including allowing further exploration in the north.
Crime, an issue that became the centrepiece of the mayor-elect’s municipal election campaign, hasn’t vanished from Hobbs’ agenda. Hobbs said Wednesday that crime will continue to be a primary focus in the coming months. Hobbs had mentioned earlier that a curfew for children under 16 years old could be a way to curb crime.
Implementing a city-wide curfew for younger residents is a controversial issue. Some councillors have stated that they support the idea, but it is far from unanimous.
Despite the contentious issue, Hobbs said he hoped to have a curfew of some kind in place by the summer.
The new mayor-elect’s long-term goals include trying to bring up the city’s population to 150,000. He said he also wants to pay off the city’s entire debt load.
With only four years to accomplish these goals, Hobbs admits that it might take a little longer than his term allows.
