Two more of the provincial party leaders have unveiled their campaign platforms specific to northern Ontario.
Liberal leader Steven Del Duca’s promises include the creation of a Ministry of Immigration to help bring newcomers to the north to work and live.
“We will work with the federal government, seeking a mandate from the people of this province to make sure that Ontario is in the driver’s seat when it comes to our own immigration system.,” says Del Duca.
Del Duca says he will also create an advisory plan to ensure the new Ministry is established in the best interest of the north.
Other promises for northern Ontario include;
- Ensuring everyone can access a family doctor or nurse practitioner within 24 hours, regardless of their postal code;
- Covering tuition costs for medical and nursing students who commit to working in a rural or remote community;
- Getting affordable, high-speed internet to everyone in Northern Ontario by 2025;
- Constructing new roads to open up access to the Ring of Fire;
- Supporting and empowering Northern municipalities by rebating 5% of the provincial mining tax;
- Making Community Transportation Grants permanent and slashing municipal and Ontario Northland fares to a “buck-a-ride;”
- Promoting economic development and regional tourism by boosting funding for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to $150 million;
- Building or repairing Northern community infrastructure, like libraries and arenas;
- Advancing the proven “2+1” highway model to support safe passing on major Northern Ontario highways;
- Ensuring the highest possible level of winter maintenance on Highways 11 and 17;
- Promoting safer winter driving by introducing a refundable tax credit of $75 per winter tire and $100 per studded tire in Northern Ontario; and
- Reversing Ford Conservative cuts and delays to critical Northern services and projects, and ensuring the following projects move ahead:
- The four-laning of Highway 69 and Highway 11/7 between Thunder Bay and Nipigon by 2025;
- The widening of Highway 17 from Kenora to the Manitoba border;
- The reconstruction of Highway 101 in Timmins;
- The Cochrane bypass from Highway 11 to Highway 652.
Green Party leader Mike Schreiner also unveiled his plans for northern Ontario on Tuesday.
Photo supplied by Green Party of Ontario
“Ontario’s Greens have your back. We have a vision for the north to be prosperous, to be a leader in the new climate economy, to create the new career and job opportunities people in the north need to succeed,” says Schreiner.
The Green’s plan focus on seven key areas
1) Create good green jobs in the North
- Increase sustainable, circular and Indigenous-led access to critical minerals and metals while fully adhering to principles of UNDRIP
- Maximize job and economic benefits for Northern communities by removing barriers to mass timber building
2) Expand access to quality healthcare in Northern communities
- Make dedicated investments in Nurse Practitioner-led clinics in the North where improved access to primary care is critical
3) Invest in a mental health and addictions strategy
- Build at least 4,000 supportive homes and 6,000 affordable community rental homes for Northern communities
- Implement the Ontario Greens’ Addiction Strategy to address the drug poisoning crisis that has disproportionately affected Northern communities
4) Improve funding for education and French language access
- Support the University of Sudbury in transforming into a university by and for Francophones
5) Protect Ontario’s natural heritage
- Provide $1B in funding to First Nations communities to support Indigenous-protected and conserved areas and Indigenous-led climate solutions
6) Partner with Indigenous communities
- Invest in the creation of 14,000 Indigenous-led affordable homes in Northern Ontario communities
7) Improve connections to the North
- Immediately restore and improve the Northlander passenger rail service between Toronto and Cochrane with funding for upfront capital costs of $220 million as well as annual operating subsidies of $12 million
