Manitouwadge Calls On MPP To Facilitate Meeting With Jeffrey (MNR)
From the Editor**OntarioNewsNorth.com spoke with MPP Mike (Michael) Brown just days ago about the Forward Attack Base and what he hopes to reiterate to Minister Jeffrey, WATCH THE VIDEO of that interview + more info about the possible attack base locations by CLICKING HERE.
REVIEW the Township’s release from July 2010 (CLICK HERE) announcing a request to meet with Minister Linda Jeffrey in regards to the Forward Attack Base – it seems despite very diligent efforts not much progress has been made since last year.
Manitouwadge Municipal Leaders are calling on their MPP Mike Brown, Algoma Manitoulin to take the next step and facilitate a meeting with the Minister of Natural Resources, Linda Jeffrey
Efforts to secure the Attack Base for Manitouwadge have been ongoing; here, at the NOMA AGM last Spring(2010) in Marathon, Mayor John MacEachern, Council and Town Clerk Cecile Kerster dicuss the town's suitability with Minister of Northern Development Mines and Forests the Hon. Michael Gravelle. Photo by OntarioNewsNorth.com
MANITOUWADGE, ON – Municipal leaders are asking their MPP Mike Brown to take the next step and facilitate a meeting with the Minister of Natural Resources, Linda Jeffrey, with respect to Mr. Brown’s recent letter to Minister Jeffrey asking her to delay capital allocations until the next fiscal year for the proposed Forest Fire Forward Attack Base to provide time for further consideration. The MNR plans to build a Forward Attack Base at North Crocker Lake at an estimated cost to exceed $3,000,000.00.
Now is the time for further consideration that Manitouwadge Municipal Leaders have been waiting for and to sit down and have a meaningful discussion about the impact to the community and the region of the proposed location of the new Forward Attack Base the MNR is planning on building. Manitouwadge is asking to do business, not for a handout. The community feels that they can meet the needs of the MNR Fire Management Program and in a number of ways provide superior service and cost saving to the MNR over the North Crocker Lake location. Mayor John MacEachern asks of the MNR Minister “What can the MNR achieve at the North Crocker Lake location that you cannot achieve in Manitouwadge?”
Minister of Natural Resources Linda Jeffrey
Manitouwadge may not have exactly what the MNR envision building at North Crocker Lake. The community of Manitouwadge can provide a very suitable location for the Forward Attack Base to operate from and at a cost savings to all tax payers of Ontario. Even if there are some facilities that are required by the Fire Program that we don’t have, they can be developed at a cost equal to or lower in Manitouwadge due to the proximity of existing infrastructure and resources, while taking advantage of the services that are presently offered. There should be consideration given to the environmental impact of developing a completely new stand alone site and duplicating such facilities such as helicopter fuelling storage tanks. An investment of this nature appears to be being made without consideration of the message advocated by Dr. Robert Rosehart in his report to the province as Economic Facilitator for Northwestern Ontario or even the MNR’s own Forest Fire Management Strategy for Ontario which states “The Fire Management Program will protect life, communities and the infrastructure that supports the economic and social fabric of Ontario.” MPP Mike Brown is being asked to facilitate a meeting with Linda Jeffrey Minister of Natural Resources, Michael Gravelle Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry and Municipal Leaders from Manitouwadge to have meaningful discussions about the Forward Attack Base development. The Mayor and Council of Manitouwadge are anticipating hearing from MPP Mike Brown in the very near future with a meeting date.
