Mayor Matthew Shoemaker says his trip to Queen’s Park was a valuable chance for him to advocate for the area.
Shoemaker and other members of Northern Ontario’s Large Urban Mayors group met with Premier Doug Ford on Monday to discuss ways to protect Northern Ontario’s economy, respond to the impact of tariffs, and create conditions for long-term growth.
“The meeting with the Premier – along with productive discussions with members of his cabinet – offered a valuable opportunity for NOLUM to present a united voice on behalf of Northern communities,” Shoemaker said on Tuesday via email.
“Northern priorities like the dire physician recruitment needs, the cost of policing and funding major infrastructure projects like the Port of Algoma can get lost in broader provincial conversations, which makes these direct engagements all the more important.”
Shoemaker said they welcomed the chance to “advocate for tailored responses to our unique needs and opportunities in Northern Ontario.”
According to a NOLUM news release, the mayors emphasized “the need for strategic provincial action to accelerate project approvals, deepen partnerships with Indigenous communities, and expand the economic tools available to municipalities.”
The Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors (NOLUM) is a coalition of mayors from Northern Ontario’s largest cities:
• City of Sault Ste. Marie – Mayor Matthew Shoemaker
• City of North Bay – Mayor Peter Chirico
• City of Greater Sudbury – Mayor Paul Lefebvre
• City of Thunder Bay – Mayor Ken Boshcoff
• City of Timmins – Mayor Michelle Boileau