The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.
Minister to alter Abitibi River Forest restrictions
A three-day lobby effort is proving worthwhile for Timmins and Northeastern Ontario.
Mayor Tom Laughren wrapped up his trip to the Ontario Good Roads Association convention in Toronto on Tuesday. He had an opportunity to meet with two more cabinet ministers and their representatives prior to returning North.
“Timmins issues have been very well received,” Laughren reported in a phone interview from the OGRA meetings.
Earlier in the week, Laughren had a session with Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Kathleen Wynne. He followed that up on Tuesday by meeting with MPP Mario Sergio (Liberal — York West), the parliamentary assistant to Wynne.
One Timmins-specific topic the mayor brought to the attention of the ministry was the city’s housing shortage.
“We discussed our housing situation, our need for housing and the need for upper levels of governments to become involved,” he said. “There’s a strong realization of our need for housing, and I’m talking from seniors to affordable to social housing.
“It’s definitely an area the (provincial) government is going to look at. And the federal government will have a role to play as well.”
While no specific promises were made, the Timmins housing situation is now on the minister’s radar.
“They did say they would involve key players in the North before moving ahead” with projects connected to housing, Laughren said.
He also had a second meeting with Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle about the socio-economic impact that cutbacks in forestry allocations to preserve caribou habitat will have have on Northeastern Ontario communities.
In the plan for the Abitibi River Forest (located between Nighthawk and Smooth Rock Falls), initial numbers called for an immediate reduction in harvest volume of 25% with volume losses up to 65% after 20 years.
“We had a really good discussion about the Abitibi River Forest,” Laughren said. “Some of the numbers from last year’s report are definitely going to change.
“I came away from that meeting really optimistic. I think there is room for good work to be done between the government, communities and industry.
“I get the sense that there will be more dialogue about the Endangered Species Act and its potential impact.”
Laughren also had discussions with cabinet ministers relating to several other Timmins-specific issues.
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