McMeekin listening to municipalities' challenges

Ted McMeekin thinks it's important to get out and listen to people.

That's what the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has been doing in the region over the past few days, listening to issues and concerns from municipal leaders.

"Hearing in each community their unique stories and their history and some of their challenges," he said after meeting with the six rural municipalities around Thunder Bay on Wednesday.

While the stories may be unique, the municipalities share a lot of the same issues. That includes challenges with the structure of the district social services administration board, revenue and social housing. Infrastructure also came up McMeekin said.

"And some questions of how we can better partner together," he said.

With an aging population, the municipalities also want to see smaller condominiums assisted-living so that population can stay.
"In many cases they can't even age in their own communities," McMeekin said.