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Mayor June Caul heads a delegation to Ottawa to meet with a few members of Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet.
The meetings take place during the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference.
Caul says a higher tax rate on railways tops the agenda with Finance Minister Rod Phillips.
“I want to thank Ken Perry for actually starting that whole issue because he’s the one who brought it forward and now we want to continue doing what he was doing,” says Caul.
Also making the trip are Councillors Doug Judson and Andrew Hallikas and Chief Administrative Officer Doug Brown. They will also talk to Solicitor General Sylvia Jones and Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney.
Caul says their presentation to Mulroney will be the need to continue the connecting link funding program which helps with repairs to roads that provide a link to the provincial highway system.
“Without that, we have 2 choices. We raise taxes so ridiculously high that residents can’t afford it or we don’t do our repairs to water, sewer, storm sewer, and roadways.”
Caul says they’re also looking for a relaxing of the rules required by the town to clear sidewalks of snow in the winter within 48 hours of a storm. The town would like an extra day to do the job.
The delegation had also asked for meeting with Natural Resources Minister John Yakabuski about the recent sale of the mill in Fort Frances.
“I did prepare already a comment with a question to him if he doesn’t let us have a delegation. If he’s in the bearpit (question and answer session with cabinet) I’m going to be the first one to the microphone if I can’t.”
Caul says they are also hoping to talk to Health Minister Christine Elliott about doctor recruitment.
