Fratesi fears Sault to be left out of Northern Growth Plan

Fratesi said when the growth plan was released last year it gave not only our city, but the entire northern part of the province, hope for the future.

That hopeful optimism has turned into fearful concern.

"We're talking about a plan that's suppose to guide the growth of Northern Ontario for the next 25 years," said Fratesi. "It's intended to connect communities, not make one or two cities stronger at the expense of the other cities."

"The plan is strong and indentifies the major five cities as economic hubs around which future growth of the province will surround," he said.

"Unfortunately the three rollouts contained in the plan were put together without any meaningful contribution from the North."

Saying he was disappointed with the lack of consultation from communities in the north other than Thunder Bay and Sudbury regarding not only the growth plan, but particularly the Northern Ontario Policy Institute, Fratesi said the location of policy institute announcements in Sudbury and Thunder Bay fuels his fears of predisposition by the provincial government.

He worries appointments for the institute will be based solely on recommendations made by presidents at universities in Sudbury and Thunder Bay and said neither Dr. Richard Myers of Algoma University or Dr. Ron Common of Sault College have been consulted.

Presidents at Laurentian and Lakehead Universities have been added to the 10-member board of directors who will provide the province with recommendations on policies and programs geared towards assisting the Northern Ontario regional economy

"Being the two larger cities, our original suspension of Sudbury and Thunder Bay doing better than anyone else appears to be the case," said Fratesi. "At this point in time it appears the Northern Policy Institute will be directed by Sudbury and Thunder Bay."

He added the two ridings are represented by cabinet ministers in the Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government.

"We've spent energy, money and time doing a number of studies on a multi-mode transportation strategy," said Amaroso. "We want to make sure we have the ability to participate in that study."

"I am pleased you consider the Northern Growth plan to have merit, considering it was developed by northerners for northerners through an inclusive process," said Ross, in a letter to Fratesi.

"As you are aware, the announcement for the launch of the Northern Policy Institute is scheduled for August 31 and we are confident the special advisors to the Minister have provided their advice, taking into account contributions from over 1400 stakeholders that surveys were sent to, including input from the northern CAOs, of which yours was a part."