NOMA opens conference today

Municipal leaders from across Northwestern Ontario are to gather today in Thunder Bay for the start of their 67th annual general meeting and conference.
The three-day Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association conference at the Victoria Inn will feature speakers and information sessions of regional interest along with a bear pit session on Friday with eight cabinet ministers.
NOMA president Ron Nelson said Tuesday that “one of the big things” delegates will be discussing is MPAC property assessments.
“I’m sure that is going to be a lively debate because of the reassessment going on” in the area’s pulp and paper sector, said Nelson.
Delegates want to know how MPAC “came up with their numbers and formula,” he said.
Antoni Wisniowski, president and CEO of the Municipal Property Assessment Corp., is to address delegates Thursday morning.
A coalition of seven communities including Thunder Bay want MPAC to consider a community’s economic state when determining industrial property assessments. Several communities have seen their industrial assessment drop substantially due to decisions by assessment appeal panels.
The president of one of those industrial sector businesses, Resolute Forest Products’ Richard Garneau, is to address NOMA delegates during a noon-hour session on Thursday.
In the afternoon, delegates will consider resolutions developed by the Thunder Bay, Kenora and Rainy River district municipal associations.
On Friday, delegates get a chance to ask questions of cabinet ministers.
On the guest list are Training, Colleges and Universities Minister Brad Duguid, Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle, Economic Development, Trade and Employment Minister Eric Hoskins, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Linda Jeffrey, Research and Innovation Minister Reza Moridi, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Glen Murray, Natural Resources Minister David Orazietti and Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer.
“We’re looking forward to the bear pit session with the eight ministers,” Nelson said, adding that having that many cabinet ministers in one room is somewhat of a record for NOMA.
He said Jeffrey is expected to explain the province’s planning policy and how it will impact Northwestern Ontario.
NOMA, Nelson said, has “been pushing for a Northern planning policy, because a policy developed in southern Ontario doesn’t always fit in the North.
“I’m sure flood issues and (disaster) funding from the province will come up, as will Aboriginal Affairs issues dealing with mining and infrastructure funding,” he added.
PC Leader Tim Hudak and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath are also to address delegates during the conference.

http://www.chroniclejournal.com/content/news/local/2013/04/24/noma-opens-conference-today