Green, Jonathan Milnes
Establish a Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs office in Thunder Bay to assist and facilitate the ever-growing needs of Aboriginal people in the City and Region.
Provide funding and support for the operations of this office. We will implement a community engagement program that will empower Aboriginal peoples in Thunder Bay to seek leadership roles within the community.
Develop Provincial energy policies that provide competitive pricing and energy sufficient to meet the supply needs anticipated for industrial and residential growth in the North.
First and foremost we will decrease the rate at which industrial energy is charged. Energy rates have steadily risen through current and past administrations, which has to stop. By decreasing these rates and making them more competitive and appealing to private investors, mining and industrial contracts will return to the region. Losing contracts due to exorbitant energy costs will be a thing of the past.
Commit to the principles of the Northern Ontario Growth Plan and support its implementation including devolution of decision-making authority to Northerners.
The GPO views the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario as a great step to restoring local decision-making. We will ensure that six themes of the Plan are addressed equally, so that one does not take precedent over another – we can’t have an effective economy without considering our environment, aboriginal peoples, communities etc.
We believe in delivering a government that works for the people and delivers what the people want. By taking the decision-making authority away from the very distanced few, and giving it back to individuals and groups that actually understand their economy and community, we will help to bring prosperity back to the North.
To ensure the implementation of the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario, we will begin by setting strict guidelines and regulations for the environment, which will set the stage to bring in private investors who are interested in not only building the economy, but also creating safe and healthy communities. With a diversified economy more investors will be attracted to the region, which will turn into more growth.
Support enhanced dedicated municipal infrastructure funding that addresses the many challenges of public infrastructure in Ontario.
By giving the decision-making authority back to Northerners, we will ensure that municipal infrastructure funding is allocated based on need and demand. Public infrastructure demands in Ontario varies by region and funding should be assessed on the regional level.
Provide basic community services in Thunder Bay for users who require culturally sensitive services such as;
1. Withdrawal management and crisis housing for people dealing with serious substance use issues.
2. Regional Transitional Housing for people visiting the region who require support and services not offered in their home communities.
We will put communities back in charge of their local health care decisions. While each region/town will have equal access to quality community health services, it will be up to these communities to focus on what they deem their most important issues. In Thunder Bay we will increase the access and reach of supportive/transitional housing and mental health and addictions clinics, and decrease the wait time for these services. Children and youth will become a focal point to address these issues.
For the above to happen we will need to increase the number of mental health and addictions facilities there are in Thunder Bay. By creating more facilities and bringing (and training) more practitioners, we will be able to treat and diagnose more children and youth and help curb this trend.
Provide alternate Non-Emergent Transportation for residents of Thunder Bay and the District served by Superior North Emergency Medical Service (EMS).
To this end we would work to increase the funding of the Superior North Emergency Medical Services, so they are able to deal with these cases.
Adopt an Ontario Crime Prevention Strategy that provides core funding for crime prevention initiatives to municipal crime prevention councils.
We would work with surrounding municipalities to create a network whereby the flow of information is quick. We need to use deterrent policies to curb the rate of crime.
Support in principle the development of a new Thunder Bay Event Centre subject to completion of the detailed Phase 2 Feasibility Study.
We are proponents of the new Thunder Bay Event Centre, assuming its feasibility is confirmed. It will bring together the community.
