http://www.timminspress.com/2016/05/04/wynne-in-timmins-next-week-for-fonom

Kathleen Wynne (Postmedia Network file photo)

TIMMINS - By this time next week, most of the key movers and shakers in Ontario will be in Timmins.

They will be taking part in the annual conference of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM), which begins at the McIntyre Community Building on Wednesday.

Among those attending will be Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Ontario opposition leader Patrick Brown and Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath.

Another key speaker will be former Ontario premier Bob Rae, the man who is also the chief negotiator for the nine Matawa First Nations who have a territorial claim to the Ring of Fire mining region.

The event is also hosting the Northeastern Municipal Conference for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

FONOM president Al Spacek said the annual conference has become a major event on the Ontario political calendar and that’s important for Northern Ontario.

“Well, we’re very pleased that Premier Wynne will be in attendance and a significant number of her cabinet ministers,” Spacek said Wednesday.

“It is a great opportunity for Northerners, especially the community leaders, councillors and staff to network, to potentially speak first hand with some of the ministers.”

While many Northern municipal leaders sometimes struggle to get a meeting with government leaders at Queen’s Park, Spacek said it is significant that the government is coming to the North.

This will include Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle, Natural Resources Minister Bill Mauro, Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer, Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca and Municipal Affairs Minister Ted McMeekin.

Spacek said the ministers are expected to sit in on the bear pit session where they will be on the hot seats and answer direct questions from Northern leaders. He said this level of participation is a good indication that FONOM has grown in stature in the eyes of the provincial government.

“I would like to think so. FONOM has worked very hard to increase its presence and working relationship with the provincial government,” Spacek revealed.

“Just as significant we have a very strong working relationship with out sister organization NOMA (Northwestern Ontario Municipal Organization). Through all of that now, when we’re in Queen’s Park voicing an opinion, I think it carries weight. I think that is significant.”

The presence of the Premier and of so many government ministers at such an event usually means the government is poised to make an announcement or unveil a new program.

Spacek said he hadn’t heard of anything being in the wind, but he also noted that when the Premier was in Thunder Bay last week, she made post-secondary education funding announcements.

The 12-page agenda for the Timmins event also revealed that City of Timmins planning manager Cindy Welsh will be making a presentation on the role of municipal planning for the Goldcorp Hollinger open pit mine. Brian Marks of the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board will also make a presentation on the importance of partnerships to address housing needs in the North.

While in Timmins, Premiere Wynne will also be making a brief appearance at the Kidd Mine and speaking to employees there, in regards to the 50th anniversary celebration of starting production at the mine. A Kidd spokesperson told The Daily Press they are not aware that Wynne will make any announcement.