Last week, Mayor, councillors, and senior City staff attended the 2024 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa. In an update released by AMO on August 23, the conference was referred to as “record-setting” with over 3,300 participants in attendance. Timmins’ delegation used the opportunity to push for increased provincial funding for several key priorities, including housing, infrastructure, and recreation.
In a meeting with the Honourable Minister Paul Calandra, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the City’s Housing Action Plan was presented with a focus on expanding critical infrastructure for subdivision development. Mayor Michelle Boileau and City staff will continue the conversation on Tuesday when Calandra makes a stop in Timmins.
At the conference, Ontario announced another round of funding for housing-related infrastructure, a potential for the City to secure costs required to build, maintain, or repair core assets that support the construction of new homes. The City’s meeting with Parliamentary Assistant Amarjot Sandhu, Ministry of Infrastructure, discussed the funding requirements and how the City can continue to improve and expand municipal infrastructure to combat the housing shortage.
“Both meetings were positive,” said the City’s Chief Administrative Officer Dave Landers. “We have about 15 minutes to make a case for what we need now to move Timmins’ forward. We need funding from upper levels of government to help us build more homes, specifically to help us make sure we have the infrastructure capacity to service new subdivisions.”
The province also announced details of a new Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund to help upgrade existing or build new recreation facilities. The announcement came before the City’s meeting with the Honourable Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport, to discuss funding options for the proposed multi-purpose recreation facility. Design and study costs related to the project could be eligible for funding, and the City will also look for additional projects that may qualify under the same program.
“The timing of the province’s announcement was ideal,” said Mayor Michelle Boileau. “We were prepared to talk about how the proposed multi-purpose facility will not only improve access to local sports and recreation programming, but allow Timmins to host more events and expand tourism opportunities. Our vision is very much in line with the province’s commitment to provide access to modern facilities that support community growth and sustainability. What I took from the meeting is that our plans for a new multi-purpose facility need to incorporate both recreation and well-being opportunities.”
While the City’s meeting with the Honourable Prabmeet Sarkaria on Hwy. 67 (Municipal Rd.) was not definitive, the Minister of Transportation has committed to come to Timmins and see the state of the road, while continuing to explore solutions for Timmins and Iroquois Falls. Both communities have been asking that maintenance and costs of Hwy. 67 be uploaded to the province.
Mayor Boileau also met with the Honourable Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s Health Minister, as part of the Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors (NOLUM) delegation on physician recruitment and retention. When the minister asked for ideas on how to combat the doctor shortage, Mayor Boileau’s recommendation was clear. Continue to invest in local healthcare facilities with the goal of making them state-of-the-art, with the equipment and resources that attract doctors and healthcare practitioners.
“The province can help create workplaces where physicians will want to practice,” adds Boileau. “Modern, innovative, efficient, with access to the equipment and infrastructure that healthcare professionals will seek out.”