At the recent Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference in Toronto, Thunder Bay representatives highlighted concerns over escalating budgets for external boards and agencies, as well as the fate of the former Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital (LPH) grounds. Thunder Bay officials aimed to limit budget increases to 2.6% for 2026 but faced challenges as outside entities, like the police, proposed higher hikes beyond the city’s control.
Coun. Trevor Giertuga emphasized the need for provincial oversight on tax levy increases from external boards and agencies, stressing the lack of regulations in place. Meanwhile, Coun. Shelby Ch’ng expressed interest in acquiring control of the 144-acre LPH property, currently under provincial review, following the hospital’s closure in 2018.
At the conference, Rick Dumas, Mayor of Marathon and NOMA President, urged the province to lower population requirements for funding initiatives like the Building Faster Fund, noting the challenges faced by smaller municipalities in accessing crucial resources for community development. Highway safety in northern Ontario was another pressing issue raised by Dumas, advocating for infrastructure improvements to enhance road safety and reduce travel disruptions during inclement weather conditions.
In response to these concerns, Ontario Premier Doug Ford acknowledged the importance of road safety initiatives, pledging significant government investment in infrastructure projects to address critical issues and prevent accidents in the region.
