Mayor Michelle Boileau and the City’s delegation have joined municipal leaders from across the province at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference in Toronto this week. It’s an opportunity to meet with provincial ministers and prioritize municipal concerns.
On Monday, Mayor Boileau met with Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation, to discuss a number of issues, including bypass routes and the state of Municipal Road.
"Municipal Road is a growing concern for both Timmins and Iroquois Falls," said Mayor Boileau. "Maintenance of the road comes at a considerable cost to the municipality for a regional connecting route between Hwy 101 E. and Hwy 11. The Minister and her staff heard our concerns and committed to working with the communities on this matter."
Maintenance of Municipal Rd. was downloaded to the City of Timmins effective January 1, 1998.
Lobbying sessions with the ministers help City Council put Timmins’ front and centre with the province. Conference attendees will also be taking part in workshops on a variety of topics including asset management, supporting seniors in a rural community, and attracting housing development to rural Ontario.
“Advocating on behalf of Timmins and its residents is a significant part of my role, “adds Mayor Boileau. “We come prepared to make the most of the time in front of provincial decision-makers. We need to be clear on why additional provincial support is needed to maintain our roads and infrastructure.”