Mayor Michelle Boileau is ready to push for increased infrastructure funding across several key priorities at this year’s Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa. The Mayor and senior municipal staff will present the City’s Housing Action Plan, requirements for a new multi-purpose recreation facility, and continue asking the province to take responsibility for Hwy. 67.
The annual AMO Conference, held August 18 – 21, 2024, is the province’s biggest event for municipal leaders. The opportunity to get in front of key decision-makers is invaluable when representing the city’s residents, local business, and industry.
“We are confident that the plans and presentations we have prepared are well-thought-out and reinforce the opportunities that are available in Timmins,” says Mayor Boileau. “We know that in order to grow our population and economy, we need support from the province to assist with housing, roads and facility infrastructure, and critical health services.”
Timmins’ delegation will meet with the Honourable Minister Paul Calandra, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to discuss the recently approved Housing Action Plan and how the province can assist with the cost of subdivision development and infrastructure. A meeting is booked with the Honourable Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport, to discuss funding options for the proposed multi-purpose recreation facility. Funding will be required from all levels of government should council decide to proceed with construction. The City will also meet with the Honourable Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation for Ontario, to continue talk of uploading maintenance and costs of Hwy. 67 (Municipal Rd.) to the province, a joint request with the Town of Iroquois Falls.
Mayor Boileau will join the other Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors (NOLUM) to meet with the Honourable Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s Health Minister. The conversation will be physician recruitment and retention, Northern Ontario School of Medicine enrollment, and health team capacities. Timmins’ Council has approved a three-year financial commitment to fund a physician startup grant of up to $200,000 per year to offset the cost of setting up medical practice in the city. In a presentation to Council on June 18, the Timmins Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee was clear about the impacts of the doctor shortage on the community over the next five years.
“There is a significant number of residents across all of Northern Ontario who are considered unattached patients without direct access to a family physician or required specialist,” adds Mayor Boileau. “Timmins’ Council is prepared to make the necessary investment in recruitment. We need the province to work with us to help create sustainable health services.”