Housing, emergency medical services and public health.

Those are just some of the issues the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association brought up at this week’s Association of

Municipalities of Ontario Convention held in Ottawa.

NOMA president Wendy Landry 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,” says Landry.

The housing shortage in several communities was also raised by the delegation of municipal representatives.

“Some of our communities are looking to expand housing and build according to 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.”

How municipalities are being charged for the work done to repair railway crossings was another issue raised with Ford cabinet members.

NOMA feels the rail companies should be getting that bill.