The Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in Toronto has wrapped up and Mayor Al McDonald says they had a series of productive meetings.
They sat down with the Health, Environment and Transportation Ministers.
McDonald says behind the scenes work on moving the ONTC to the MTO continues with the support of Nipissing MPP and Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Minister Vic Fedeli.
“Minister Fedeli has stated that’s something he supports, we support him in that transfer of it (ONTC) over to the MTO. We think the strategic link with Metrolinx is going to be key to further success at the ONTC,” he says.
McDonald says they also delivered a report on the Mayors Roundtable on Mental Health and Addictions to the Health Minister.
“They said they would look at the report and review it and get back to us,” he says.
McDonald says the report will be made public, but they wanted to present it to the minister first.
He points out the city supports the roundtable recommendations, saying they need to be implemented.
“If they’re not, we will start to see the same situation we had last summer and fall when it comes to homelessness. But the plan is solid, it’s a good plan and we’re hoping to be able implement it,” McDonald adds.
Last fall the roundtable unveiled a plan involving the creation of a new transitional housing stabilization centre to help those who are at-risk or already homeless.
The local delegation also discussed waste with the Environment Minister.

(photo by station staff)

Filed under: Mayor Al McDonald, Mayor's Roundtable, ONTC, ROMA