North Bay Mayor Al McDonald said it's time for Northerners to stop working in “silos” and come together to develop a common plan to influence the policy makers in southern Ontario.
In a Sept. 28 speech to Greater Sudbury City Council, the former Nipissing MPP said many regional organizations are doing great work, but there remains a “classic divide” in the North.
McDonald said what's needed is a a vision and a direction set by Northerners to champion this area.
“Decisions made in southern Ontario, made in good faith and with all available information at the time, do not guarantee it will be a good decision.”
McDonald cited the spring bear hunt and the Far North Act as two examples of southern Ontario-influenced policy decisions made in Queen's Park that has had “major implications to businesses and industries in the North.”
McDonald said popular decisions made in the south only hinder the ability of Northern towns and cities to grow.
“Politics trumps good policy at times,” said McDonald. “Southern Ontario has its own challenges, but we don't interfere in their decisions.”
With the region receiving unprecedented media attention during the provincial election campaign, he put out a call to action for business and community leaders, and First Nations, to stand up and set a new course for Northern Ontario.
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