The recently released census has confirmed what we in the Northeastern Superior Mayors Group (NESMG) have been trying to tell Government – we are in trouble!
Over the course of the past several months, I have been writing about the trials and tribulations of small town Northern Ontario and more specifically, how the “larger community” agenda has virtually determined an unkind end to these once flourishing communities. While the natural resources of our communities continue to fuel the rich economic engine of the south, the mismanagement of the small communities of the North continues.
The release of the census only proves just how desperate the situation is. While North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste Marie, Thunder Bay and Timmins have grown, others centres have not. In fact, the six communities in the NESMG (Chapleau, Wawa, White River, Manitouwadge, Hornepayne and Dubreuilville) may have the area with the largest overall decline in the North. Each community experienced a decline in the double digits. Let’s remember that these results were all accumulated just before the most recent troubles of the forest industry – frightening! Just how bad is it going to get in the near future?
On a more global basis, the census concludes that two-thirds of Canada’s population growth over the past five years was as a result of immigration. So just what portion of that immigration flowed into small town Northern Ontario? None!
The census also projects a full 100 per cent of Canada’s growth will be dependant upon immigration. Census Canada concludes they really do not see the future growth as a problem. Yikes! Yet, Census Canada suggests they would like to see government policy direct new immigrants outside major centres like Toronto. Well, I for one would like to see just how the “brain trust” will accomplish that feat. I am only too familiar with the term “outside major cities like Toronto.” This actually translates into Niagara Falls, Barrie, Newmarket, Oshawa and perhaps the “big five” in Northern Ontario.
I think I can safely say that it will not include NESMG. Even if any level of government was successful in moving immigrants into these small towns, just what jobs would they have them do? Unfortunately, moving the economic juggernaut of public sector jobs to small towns in Northern Ontario combined with a move of newcomers to these same towns is well beyond the “cranial capacity” of those who can influence the decision makers. So the mismanagement continues.
If the senior levels of government were serious about Northern Ontario they would adjust their archaic policies and move jobs and immigrants to small town Northern Ontario. Combine this with a change in wood allocation policies where the forest resources would be allocated on the basis of value-added (read adds jobs) and not on entitlement and we might have a solution.
Unfortunately, giving the control of forest resources to communities who can prove adding the highest value to those resources may again be beyond the comprehension of those that can make a difference. Then again, this may be a great opportunity for a pilot project. The NESMG has the talent and the need; I just hope somebody is listening.
Wawa's Chris Wray is the CAO of the Township of Michipicoten.
