FONOM/MMAH Northeastern Municipal Conference in Timmins
The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) / Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) 56th Northeastern Municipal Conference starts Wednesday, May 11 and runs through to Friday, May 13 in Timmins, Ontario.
The conference venue is the McIntyre Community Centre, 85 McIntyre Road, Timmins. Approximately 250 delegates are expected for the conference. The FONOM membership is made up of 110 municipalities in Northeastern Ontario with the majority of delegates representing these areas. FONOM acts in an advocacy role in relation to political and economic issues of concern to Northern Ontario.
Following are some of the conference highlights:
- Official opening ceremony is at 1:00 pm Wednesday.
- The keynote address on Wednesday at 1:30 pm is being given by the Hon. Bob Rae, Ontario’s 21st Premier and former Liberal Party of Canada leader.
- Address from the Premier of Ontario, Hon. Kathleen Wynne on Thursday, May 12th at 8:15 am.
- Address from NDP Leader, Andrea Horwath and PC Leader, Patrick Brown.
- Attendance by members of the Federal Liberal Northern Ontario Caucus.
- Session topics include: the current state of the forest economy, an agriculture sector update, new initiatives for housing and homelessness, innovative ideas for municipal finance and budgeting, new provincial disaster relief programs, land use planning, and information on the Waste‐Free Ontario Act, to name a few.
- A trade show featuring more than 28 exhibitors with goods and services of interest to municipalities is open Wednesday through Thursday afternoon.
- A banquet on Thursday night will honour the 2016 recipient of the FONOM Executive Award.
- Friday morning features the FONOM annual general meeting and resolutions session (open to members only).
Minister’s Forum will begin Friday at 11:45 am and will include Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ted McMeekin; Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Michael Gravelle; Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, David Zimmer; Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, Bill Mauro; Minister of Transportation, Steven Del Duca; with others to be confirmed.
