Urban issues tossed around the table

Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota (L) is joined by Liberal Senator Larry Campbell and Liberal MP Paul Zed to hear local concerns on urban issues Friday.

Area community leaders and concerned members of the community joined Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota as he hosted a roundtable discussion in North Bay on Friday.

MP Paul Zed, Liberal Critic for Cities, Communities, and Infrastructure, and Senator Larry Campbell, Chair of the Liberal Urban Communities Caucus joined Rota to discuss urban issues.

The trio heard from area leaders about a number of issues ranging from the need for sustained infrastructure funding, affordable housing, mental health, aboriginal issues, source water protection and the need for a passport office.

“You are not at the table to express the needs of the community and that is why we are here,” Senator Larry Campbell tells the group.

“You have to be at the table … and this government (Conservative) can’t ignore the citizen’s needs.”

MP Paul Zed agreed stating, “We need to work together, and we need to work hard to get the message out.”

Zed says he will be taking the issues of the airport, transportation and health care back to Ottawa so the municipal issues are considered when developing policy.

“The Liberals want to ensure that these mayors and councillors have a voice at the table.”

Friday’s meeting was just the latest in a series of meetings hosted by the MP addressing a number of topics. Rota says he was pleased by the turn out and discussion and says he will continue to host similar forums in the future.

The MP says the goal of the meetings is to forge a strong and meaningful partnership between all levels of government.

“By working together on a wide range of issues, we stand to achieve much greater long-term results,” says Rota

“It is important to for us to meet with the hands on folks, the mayors that live and work here. And it is my job as MP is to ensure that the issues that matter most to the people of my riding are dealt with quickly and efficiently.”