Bob interviews Mayor Al Hospital Cuts, a lockout and a university strike are some of the labour issues facing the city right now.

Mayor Al McDonald spoke about that on Council Capsule this morning with Matthew Sookram.

McDonald says from a city standpoint there’s not much they can do outside of encouraging both sides to talk, because these are provincially run industries.

McDonald says they hope to see an end to the labour unrest soon. Meantime, he says there has been some good news when it comes to health care locally, and it’s due to the announcement of three new doctors coming to the city.

McDonald says this was accomplished through a partnership between the city and the North Bay Regional Health Centre.

McDonald says the clinic is currently being constructed on Maplewood Avenue next to Caseys.

As well, residents will be saving money on their water meter bills if council approves the new rate. McDonald told Sookram, every sector will be paying the same amount.

McDonald says it’s a very competitive water rate for residents as well as the commercial and industrial side.

Meantime, the subject of job cuts and lockouts came up and the Mayor said there’s not much they can do when these are provincially run industries. However, he says they can bring in jobs through capital projects – and there could be a lot of them in 2016.

McDonald says they should hit $105-million in building costs and that’s not including housing.

For the full Council Capsule recap click below