Housing, Emergency Medical Services and public health.

Those are just some of the issues the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association brought up at this weeks Association of Municipalities of Ontario Convention.

Wendy Landry is president of NOMA and says they also talked about the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund.

“There has been an increase in the OMPF funding and the amount is $500 million for 2022,” says Landry.

“But we just felt the allocation formula needs to be clearly reflected in the unique needs of communities in northwestern Ontario.”

Landry adds they brought up the housing shortage in a number of communities.

“Some of our communities are looking to expand housing and build according the need of their municipality.  I’ll use Red Lake as an example where they have crown land right in the center of the municipality.  It’s an opportunity for them to build housing.”

She also brought up how municipalities are being charged for work to repair railway crossings, and feels the rail companies should be getting that bill.

Landry is the mayor of Shuniah near Thunder Bay and so far is the only candidate in that community to run for the top job.