I Am Writing Today to Request Your Support Regarding the Opasatika Housing Pilot Project

TEL:( 705)369-4531 FAX:( 705) 369-2002 E- mail : twpopas@persona. cG Canton IJ AY aJa1iZeZ TownSrll

50 GOVERNMENT ROAD - 50 CHEMIN DU GOUV. C.P./ P.O. BOX 100 OPASATIKA, ONT. POL 1Z0

City of Timmins 220 Algonquin Blvd E

P4N 1133 Attention: Steve Black, Mayor

I am writing today to request your support regarding the Opasatika Housing Pilot Project.

Most of our communities are faced with the same reality. School closures in rural communities and an aging population. With the I' Ecole St-Antoine in Opasatika that closed its door in 2014 and a community composed of 62% of residents over the age of 50 years old, the Municipality of Opasatika is seeking support from Northeastern Communities ( Hearst, Mattice-Val Cote, Val Rita- Harty, Kapuskasing, Moonbeam, Fauquier Strickland, Cochrane, Timmins, Iroquois Falls, Smooth Rock Falls, Moosonee and Black River- Matheson) for its Opasatika Housing Pilot Project. This project will evaluate the feasibility of converting the school into affordable housing units.

When the School St- Antoine closed its doors in 2014, a partnership was created between the municipality of Opasatika and the CDDSAB. This partnership represents the first public land affordable housing partnership in Northeastern Ontario. If we can justify and realise this housing project in Opasatika, this strategy will serve as a model and could be emulated in other Northeastern Ontario municipalities.

Opasatika along with members of the task force will have the responsibility to develop a comprehensive housing strategy and deliver a marketing strategy to generate interest in purchasing homes in the region to improve the resale market for current residents. The taskforce will consist of various representatives from key service organizations in the region.

While delivering a marketing strategy, the task force will promote all of Northeastern Ontario as a quite, affordable and rural setting place to live.

Opasatika is now faced with not only a challenge, but an opportunity as well.

Currently in Opasatika, there' s no social housing, the school which is now owned by CDSSAB is in good condition, Centre de Sante Communautaire de Kapuskasing et region and the public library are already on site.

The Provincial Government has encouraged regions to work together and Opasatika always supported other communities in their projects. We see this project as a step forward towards finding a solution for the housing predicament we are all faced with. With your support, we will all together, be capable to remove barriers, find solutions and increase the capacity to succeed.

Yours truly,

Mayo

50 GOVERNMENT ROAD - 50 CHEMIN DU GOUV. d C.P./ P.O. BOX 100 OPASATIKA, ONT. POL 1ZO

RESOLUTION NO 2016- 106

MOVED BY: MR. ALAIN PINEAULT SECONDED BY: MR. WILLIAM HUARD RESOLVED: WHEREAS THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE MUNICIPALITY OF OPASATIKA, AND THE CDD5AB REPRESENT THE FIRST PUBLIC LAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP IN NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO AND CAN SERVE AS A MODEL TO BE EMULATED IN OTHER NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO MUNICIPALITIES AND; WHEREAS NORTHEASTERN COMMUNITIES WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE OPA5ATIKA' 5 MODEL TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND; WHEREAS OPA5ATIKA WILL DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING STRATEGY AND DELIVER A MARKETING STRATEGY TO GENERATE INTEREST IN PURCHASING HOMES IN THE REGION TO IMPROVE THE RESALE MARKET FOR CURRENT RESIDENTS AND; WHEREAS OPASATIKA WILL PROMOTE THE WHOLE NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO AS A PLACE TO LIVE AND; WHEREAS A TA5KFORCE INCLUDING RESOURCES PERSONS COVERING THE REGION AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS WILL WORKED TOGETHER TO REMOVE BARRIERS, FIND SOLUTIONS FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT AND; WHEREAS OPA5ATIKA HAS NO SOCIAL HOUSING IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND AN AGING POPULATION AND; WHEREAS OPASATIKA ALWAYS SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITIES IN NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO AND SEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS A REGIONAL AND; WHEREAS THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT ALWAYS ENCOURAGES REGIONS TO WORK TOGETHER; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MUNICIPALITY OF OPASATIKA REQUEST SUPPORT FROM ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES IN THE DISTRICT OF COCHRANE FOR THIS INITIATIVE AND BE AUTHORIZED TO SEEK SENIOR GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND OTHERS FOR THIS PROJECT. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE SENT TO: HEARST, MATTICE- VAL COTE, VAL RITA- HARTY, KAPU5KA5ING, MOONBEAM, FAUQUIER- STRICKLAND, COCHRANE, TIMMINS, IROQUOIS FALLS, SMOOTH ROCK FALLS, MOOSONEE AND BLACK RIVER- MATHE50N REQUESTING THEIR SUPPORT IN THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE. CARRIED

I, DENIS DORVAL, Clerk- Treasurer for the Corporation of the Township of Opasatika do hereby certify that 12th this document is a true copy of Resolution no. 2016- 106 as shown by the minutes of Council as of this day of September, 2016.

Denis borvac Clerk- Treasurer