Mayors invited here to discuss population decline

Sault Ste. Marie is inviting mayors of other Northern Ontario communities here to discuss our declining populations. The conference was initiated by Ward 2 Councillor Brady Irwin (shown at left), who persuaded his fellow councillors to approve the idea Monday night.

"We've lost three people a day over the last five years," said Irwin, referring to the new Sault population of 74,566, released last week as part of the 2001 Census data.

That figure is down 6.9 percent from the last census, done in 1996.

Other Northern communities experienced similar declines, and Irwin suggested that their mayors be invited to the Soo to discuss the problem.

City Council agreed to that, and also to invite Northern Development and Mines Minister Dan Newman, as well as Andy Mitchell, the federal minister responsible for FedNor.

The issue should also be raised at other venues, councillors suggested.

"I think we need to strike while the iron's hot," said Ward 3 Councillor Derik Brandt.

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