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Provincial leaders will debate during FONOM conference in North Bay

'Many of the 154 communities in the North have a small population, and the debate provides a platform for our voices to be heard'
BayToday Staff
2022 03 24 2022 Provincial Election Party Leaders Del Duca Ford Horwath Schreiner (Supplied)
Clockwise from top left: Steven Del Duca, Premier Doug Ford, Andrea Horwath and Mike Schreiner.Photos supplied

With the City of North Bay hosting this year's Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities conference event from May 9–11, the opportunity to get up close and personal with the leaders of the four major parties ahead of the June 2 provincial election is presenting itself.

As the FONOM conference falls inside the writ period for the election, the board is announcing it is hosting a Northern Leaders Debate during the conference featuring party leaders Steven Del Duca (Ontario Liberal), Premier Doug Ford (Ontario PC), Andrea Horwath (Ontario NDP) and Mike Schreiner (Ontario Green Party).

FONOM says the debate will focus on issues important to citizens of Northern Ontario and will be held at the Capitol Centre on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, starting at 1:15 p.m.

FONOM President Danny Whalen says, "Many of the 154 communities in the North have a small population, and the debate provides a platform for our voices to be heard. We are pleased that the municipal organizations in Northern Ontario will hear directly from the provincial party leaders during the spring campaign."  

FONOM represents 110 municipalities from across northeastern Ontario and works to better municipal government in Northern Ontario and improve legislation respecting local government in the North. The 2021 conference was held in an online setting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Besides the debate at the Capitol Centre, delegates will enjoy a reception at Cascades Casino, take a tour of the ONR with CEO Corina Moore, and attend the conference's keynote address, delivered by community strategist Doug Griffiths.

North Bay City Council recently passed a resolution directing the City of North Bay to apply to host the annual FONOM conferences in 2023, 2024 and 2025, citing the exposure and economic spin-off involved as the three-day conferences routinely attract more than 250 delegates and exhibitors and represent an opportunity to stimulate the hospitality industry with some 500 hotel stays. The 2025 conference coincides with the centennial anniversary of North Bay's incorporation.

Coun. Johanne Brousseau stressed the conferences are opportunities to showcase North Bay to provincial and other officials of northern municipalities — and are covered by national media.