Mayor Keith Hobbs was hoping to meet with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford this week, but instead met with someone “better.”
“We were in his office today and he got called away at the last minute for a meeting, but he did hook us up with Karen Stintz, chair of the (Toronto Transit Commission),” said Hobbs Wednesday afternoon at the Thunder Bay International Airport. “No offense to Mayor Ford, but it was someone we wanted to see and it was a great meeting.”
Stintz reassured Hobbs, city manager Tim Commisso and the five councillors who travelled to Toronto for the Ontario Good Roads Conference this week that Toronto recognizes the teamwork between the two cities in terms of the rail industry.
“They’re all for us building those vehicles and they don’t see any interruption in those contracts, which was very encouraging,” the mayor said.
The Thunder Bay delegation met with about nine provincial ministers and had 13 meetings, including a meeting with Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Deb Matthews to ask for funding to help with a study on how to address the city’s need for addictions services.
“She certainly is aware of what we’re asking and the issues we have in relation to the lack of beds here in our city for detox,” said Westfort Coun. Joe Virdiramo. “We want to make certain Thunder Bay’s situation is dealt with in the best way possible. She didn’t make a commitment but she assures us they would certainly take a look at it.”
Red River ward Coun. Brian McKinnon said he was pleased with their meeting with Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli.
“We have a strong sense now that we’re going to get some matching funds for our major projects,” McKinnon said. “He was very interested in two or three of the major projects we have going – Golf Links Road for example.”
Hobbs’ attendance at the Good Roads conference was his first such appearance as a municipal politician. He said the Sunday to Wednesday event was busy and productive.
“Lobbying, you can’t beat it,” he said. “I know there is some criticism out there already about how many people went. It’s very important we strategically placed everyone so we all got to meetings…I think it’s very important we have a good showing down there.
“We got our message out consistently.”
