Northwestern Ontario has had a long history of feeling neglected by the decision makers in the provincial government of Queen’s Park in Toronto. Even with good local political representation the feeling of alienation from the centre has been increasingly gaining strength, culminating in calls to secede from the Province of Ontario and join Manitoba, or to create some form of regional government. These recent calls have come from a variety of well-respected sources, which makes one wonder if there would be some merit in contemplating such a move.
Such calls have occurred in the past, and given the complexity of the political and economic dynamics that would have to take place, they quickly subsided. However, history does not repeat itself in the same way, and with the extreme economic changes occurring in this region in the last few years, it would appear there is now a lot of traction in this new movement. In fact, on Jan. 16th I had the pleasure of attending the launch of a new initiative by regional political leaders called “Enhancing the Economy of Northwestern Ontario” based on a common vision for a regional recovery plan (RRP) and moving the regional economy forward.
Key to this is the creation of a Northwestern Ontario Regional Development Authority (NWORDA) which would play a strategic role in achieving what some consider to be very ambitious goals. The RRP Committee identified a number of key areas where work is urgently needed. In some cases detailed action plans have been developed and will be referred to NOMA (Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association), NOACC (Northwestern Ontario Association of Chambers of Commerce) or other stakeholders to pursue in the immediate term, while in others the creation of a task force or committee with a specific mandate under NWORDA is recommended. The following are the proposed areas of focus:
A new Regional Enhancement Committee to provide region wide leadership for community and labour adjustment.
A Task Force on Energy with the role of examining the viability of developing a regional energy authority. [NOMA in conjunction with NOACC will take the initial lead utilizing an expanded NOMA Energy Committee as the vehicle for implementation of the recommendations.]
A Regional Health and Education Task Force that will move the Northwest forward into the knowledge economy.
A Northwestern Ontario Transportation Task Force which will focus on access needed for a growing economy.
A Regional Tourism Council which will develop and foster a Northwestern Ontario tourism strategy which will address key issues.
A Northwestern Ontario Research, Investment and Development Corporation which would provide a coordinated entry point into the knowledge economy by marketing the region as a locus for partnerships and immigration.
A Northwestern Ontario Policy Research Institute which would serve as an arm’s length source of policy advice to regional leaders and a repository of knowledge and data on the region.
In addition to the broad based recommendations outlined above, the RRP Committee also is bringing forward a number of specific recommendations for a wide range of issues that affect the North. Subject areas include a number of initiatives relevant to Economic Development as well as a number of initiatives under the heading of Infrastructure and Resources,
Finally, in order to move the recommendations of the RRP Committee forward, NOMA has agreed that the RRP be reconstituted as a Working Group to develop an implementation strategy for the creation of NWORDA- should its creation be broadly supported by key stakeholders across the Northwest.
The case for regional government
I think that given the economic reality of the day, the regional political leadership felt that Northwestern Ontario could get more done in a shorter period of time by focussing specifically on the task at hand by using regional organizations such as NOMA and NOACC that have credibility with the province and have achieved demonstrable results in the past. If successful, this option would seem to be the most workable and a step in the right direction given Ontario has already provided the City of Toronto with greater powers. Time will tell if NWORDA is the answer. If anything the local political leadership needs to be congratulated for at least taking the first steps towards more local solutions to local problems.
I believe Toronto is not capable of addressing the challenges faced by the North as they have to deal with a completely different reality of too much growth and grid-lock. Their policies are therefore aimed at solving their problems and are actually counterproductive for Northern Ontario. The present energy pricing structure is a case in point where high prices to control demand are devastating our local resource-based economy already battered by the high Canadian dollar.
I believe that ultimately the best solution is to create a form of regional government for the Northwest and the North in general, that would help end Ontario’s “Northern problem” by transferring decision-making power and responsibility to the people most affected and enable them to make the decisions that are in their best long-term interest. Is Queen’s Park listening?
Frank Pullia is the Principal of Pullia Consulting. He can be reached at 767-6579 or via e-mail at frank@frankpullia.comQuestions or comments are welcome.