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There are less than two weeks to go until the City of North Bay welcomes delegates to town as it hosts the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities annual conference, from May 9–11.
In what is sure to be a highlight of the conference, FONOM and NOMA (Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association) are hosting a Provincial Leaders debate at the North Bay Capitol Centre focusing on northern issues, Tuesday, May 10, at 1 p.m.
The debate will feature party leaders Steven Del Duca (Ontario Liberal), Premier Doug Ford (Ontario PC), Andrea Horwath (Ontario NDP) and Mike Schreiner (Ontario Green Party). As the FONOM conference falls inside the writ period for the anticipated June 2 election, organizers say the leaders of these provincial political parties will focus the discussion on issues of regional importance.
Once conference dignitaries and attendees are accounted for, a limited number of tickets remain available for purchase by the general public. Those tickets, priced at $125 each, are for sale via the Capitol Centre website. The maximum number of tickets that may be purchased per customer is four and the firm deadline to buy them is Friday, May 6 at 4 p.m.
A note from organizers: The debate is a high-security event and all ticket-holder contact information will be shared with relevant police and security forces.
There will be enhanced security protocols in place at the point of entry, which will include, but are not limited to, a search of personal belongings and other security screening measures. No bags are permitted. Attendees are asked to arrive early as entry to the event may be slowed due to the security protocols. The Main Street East entrance to the Capitol Centre will be closed. The point of entry for ticket holders will be the McIntyre Street East entrance. All ticket-holders must be seated by 12:30 p.m.
FONOM President Danny Whalen says of the debate, "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 FONOM Conference is held each year in a northern community and centres on topics of broader municipal interest.
"FONOM gives us, as Northern municipalities, an excellent opportunity to work together to discuss areas like economic growth, housing and partnerships,” says
Whalen. “It also provides the opportunity to form a unified regional voice to work with the Provincial Government.”
As host city, North Bay will showcase itself to delegates, conference organizers say. Besides attending the debate, during their stay, delegates will also tour the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission’s remanufacturing and repair centre and visit the new Cascades Casino.
