NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION 220 Algonquin Blvd
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NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION 220 Algonquin Blvd. East, TIMMINS, ON P4N 1B3 Counc. Michael Doody, President Mayor Roger Sigouin, Vice President Joe Torlone, Secretary-Treasurer (705) 363-7634 (705) 362-4341 (705) 360-2601 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Friday, May 15, 2015 @ 10:00 a.m. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 70 – IROQOUIS FALLS, ON MINUTES Attendees: Steve Black (Timmins), Joe Torlone (Timmins), Pat Bamford (Timmins), Walter Wawrzaszek (Timmins), Michael Doody (Timmins), Joe Campbell (Timmins), Michael Shea (Iroquois Falls),Isabelle Denault (Cochrane), Tony Antoniazzi (Kirkland Lake), Carman Kidd (Temiskaming Shores), Luc Denault (Smooth Rock Falls), Betty Lou Purdon (Iroquois Falls), Colin Kennedy (Iroquois Falls), Jean Pierre Ouellette (Cochrane), Michel Arsenault (Smooth Rock Falls), John Lemieux (Smooth Rock Falls), Sue Perras (Smooth Rock Falls), Gilles Laderoute (Black River-Matheson), Robert Brown (Black River-Matheson), Doug Bender (Black River-Matheson), Garry Edwards (Black River-Matheson), Richard Lemay (Mattice Val Cote), Don Nolet (Opasatika), Denis Dorval (Opasatika), Carole Boucher (Iroquois Falls), Yves Labelle (Kapuskasing), Al Spacek (Kapuskasing), Madeleine Tremblay (Fauquier-Strickland), Sylvie Albert (Fauquier-Strickland), Michel Briere (Mattice Val Cote), Robert Courchesne (Fauquier-Strickland), Peter Politis (Cochrane), Nicole Fortier Levesque (Moonbeam), Roger Sigouin (Hearst), Guests: Grand Chief Lawrence Martin - Mushkegowuk, David Landers (CDSSAB), OPP Insp. M. Demeules, OPP Staff Sgt. D. Foy (Please note that the names above are names of the attendees that signed the “Attendance Sheet”) If there are any errors or omissions in these minutes, please contact the undersigned. ITEM DISCUSSION ACTION REQUIRED 1. Welcome The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. Mayor M. Shea welcomed all NEOMA participants to the town of Iroquois Falls. 2. Opening President M. Doody reminded the group that we are remarks going through challenging times and of the need for NEOMA to speak as one voice. 3. Introductions Introductions were made by each of the participants. 4. Approval of 2015-04 agenda Moved by P. Politis Seconded by S. Black THAT the NEOMA meeting agenda for May 15, 2015 be approved as circulated, with the following addition: 17b) Northland Power - Cochrane Page 1 of 7 CARRIED 5. Declaration of There were no declarations of pecuniary interest. pecuniary interest 6. Adoption of 2015-05 Minutes of Moved by G. Laderoute February 6, Seconded by M. Briere 2015 THAT the minutes of the February 6, 2015 NEOMA meeting be approved as presented. CARRIED 7. Business arising a) Stable Funding Formula – Twp. of Fauquier Strickland from the minutes Mayor M. Tremblay explained the Township of Fauquier- Strickland’s concept for a stable funding model. This formula is for small communities. Documentation was provided to the group. Mayor A. Spacek indicated that from a Provincial prospective, a small community is defined as a community of less than 100,000 in population. President M. Doody recommended that a committee be formed made up of Mayor P. Politis, Mayor A. Spacek, Mayor M. Tremblay and President M. Doody. The group will schedule a meeting to discuss this matter further and report back to the group. 8. Presentations: a) Temiskaming Shores & Kirkland Lake - NEOMA Membership Mayor C. Kidd of the City of Temiskaming Shores and Mayor Antoniazzi of Kirkland Lake made a presentation to the NEOMA group. The purpose of the presentation was to request NEOMA’s consideration to have these two (2) communities join NEOMA. The following resolution was passed: 2015-06 Moved by Mayor M. Shea Seconded by Mayor R. Sigouin THAT the Northeastern Ontario Municipal Association (NEOMA) is willing to amend the NEOMA constitution in order to allow the City of Temiskaming Shores and the Town of Kirkland Lake to become members of NEOMA; AND FURTHER that a constitutional amendment will have to be made at the annual meeting to incorporate this change. CARRIED The two (2) communities were welcomed into the NEOMA group. b) OPP (Insp. M. Demeules & Staff Sgt. D. Foy) – Road closures Page 2 of 7 Insp. M. Demeules & Staff Sgt. D. Foy discussed with the NEOMA group the policies and processes with respect to road closures. The NEOMA group indicated their concerns that road closures as sometimes too lengthy thereby preventing people from going to work or performing their day to day functions. Insp. M. Demeules & Staff Sgt. D. Foy indicated that there were policies and procedures that had to be maintained, and maintained in order to ensure the health and safety of the OPP officers as well as the citizens using the Highway 11 corridor. In the end, the group pledged to work together to find solutions acceptable to all. c) Grand Chief Lawrence Martin - Energy Transportation Corridor Grand Chief L. Martin provided the group with a detailed description of his conceptual plans with respect to an energy transportation corridor in the Mushkegowuk territorial lands. In general, the group supported the concept and will anxiously await further news as to how this conceptual plan evolves into reality. 9. Financial Report The Secretary-Treasurer provided the financial report. Counc. B. Brown indicated that NEOMA may wish to investigate the investment rates with LAS. The Secretary- Treasurer undertook to investigate this matter further. 2015-07 Moved by A. Spacek Seconded by B. Brown THAT the NEOMA financial report as at March 31, 2015 be approved as circulated; CARRIED 10. Hospital report Counc. S. Perras provided her hospital report which was Hospital report? circulated at the meeting. 11. Federal & J. Vanthof attended the meeting and thanked the group Provincial elected for their support of not divesting Hydro One resolution. officials Mr. Vanthof spoke of the Cochrane Power situation as well as the need for an understanding that it is a bio- mass plant. Mr. Vanthof also indicated that he is working on the caribou plan file. 12. AMO Update Mayor A. Spacek advised the group of the following: The group is encouraged to access the services of LAS The gas tax will now consider a cost of living increase There is a special committee to discuss MPAC issues. The common issue appears to be consideration of economic obsolescence. 13. FONOM Update Mayor A. Spacek provided the following: The FONOM Conference recently held in Page 3 of 7 Sudbury was a success More work is being done with respect to taxes in the unorganized areas. Currently there is a position paper under review. In order to promote Northern Ontario in the 905/GTA area, a northern summit was held in Toronto and discussed northern issues, opportunities and challenges. The influence of environmental groups was discussed with respect to Northern Ontario development 14. AFMO Update The group was advised that the annual general meeting for AFMO will be held in North Bay. 15. NeCN Update There was no update at this time. 16. Resolutions a) Railway – Mushkegowuk conceptual plan – Mayor S. Black After considerable discussion, Mayor S. Black and Mayor P. Politis agreed to re-write this resolution for the group’s consideration, as follows: 2015-08 Moved by Steve Black Seconded by Peter Politis WHEREAS the Ring of Fire is a massive chromite mining and smelting development project; AND WHEREAS this globally significant deposit of minerals in Ontario’s far north is one of the provinces greatest economic development opportunities in a century; AND WHEREAS this once in a life-time opportunity will create jobs and generate growth and long-term prosperity for Northern Ontario, First Nation communities, the province of Ontario and Canada; AND WHEREAS increased and fully functional rail services and improved transportation corridors throughout Northern Ontario are critical for the sustainability and growth of Northeastern Ontario and Frist Nation communities; AND WHEREAS NEOMA municipalities have the required brownfield infrastructure to refine the Ring of Fire products; BE IT RESOLVED that NEOMA supports the Mushkegowuk Council’s conceptual plan to bring a railway to the Ring of Fire in a public/private partnership consistent with existing NEOMA resolutions including maintaining existing public assets such as the ONTC in the public sector’ AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NEOMA supports the need to develop much needed access to Page 4 of 7 First Nations communities and Northeastern Ontario communities in order to create social and economic growth; AND FURTHER that this resolution be sent to Premier Wynne, Minister Gravelle, the Mushkegowuk Council, NEOMA members, City of Timmins Council, MPP John Vanthof, MPP France Gelinas, MP Charlie Angus, MPP Gilles Bisson. CARRIED b) English university – Mayor S. Black Mayor S. Black provided a brief summary of this resolution. 2015-09 Moved by Mayor S. Black Seconded by Mayor A. Spacek WHEREAS, Timmins’ strategic plan – Timmins 2020 has identified the need for a English University in Timmins; AND WHEREAS, Timmins’ vision is to strengthen its position as a regional hub and in light of this provide other post-secondary opportunities to our neighbouring municipalities; AND WHEREAS, although Timmins has excellent post- secondary opportunities at the college level in both English and French and at the University level in French, the creation of a University will create stable long-term jobs, and also create the potential to support regional business and industry in their efforts to be sustainable, to diversify and to grow;