Last Straw - Fedeli

North Bay Mayor Victor Fedeli says the latest debacle with the COMRIF is the last straw.

North Bay was shut out of the latest Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) and that has Fedeli seeing red.

Full details are contained in the release below.

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The City of North Bay has been denied Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) money. The application under Intake Two was turned down, despite it meeting the health and safety, public policy priorities, and value for money criteria.

North Bay Mayor Vic Fedeli called this “the last straw” as North Bay has been shut out of several funding announcements across Northern Ontario.

Mayor Fedeli said he plans to call a summit of politicians, community leaders, and government grant agencies to investigate why North Bay has been short-changed compared to other municipalities, and to come up with solutions. “We will make a compelling case that shows the true extent of the inequities,” he said.

The Mayor commented that while critics will likely accuse the City of whining and complaining, he suggested the public hasn’t been made aware of such funding inequities in the past. And he said what may appear as grumbling is simply an effort to inform the public.

North Bay’s application to this round of COMRIF funding was for the $10-million sewer and water upgrades needed on Jane Street, Gormanville Road, and Highway 17, for the new North Bay Regional Health Centre.

Mayor Fedeli said approval of that project under the funding program would have benefited the entire region by aiding in the construction of the new hospital. In addition, it would have been beneficial as the first leg of sewer and water infrastructure for Nipissing Band #10, who have been in negotiations with the City.

The Mayor also pointed out that while the City did receive $30 million in COMRIF money from the first intake, it was forced to use it for the Water Filtration Plant. Other communities across the north received both water filtration plant money and COMRIF money. The City was anticipating this round of COMRIF to help even the playing field, but not only did North Bay not receive any funding, most large Northern Ontario communities received hefty amounts, further widening the gap.

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