Northern Ontario

Northern Ontario — Listening, showing up and delivering

Over the past year, I've travelled to more than 15 communities across northeastern and Northwestern Ontario. Everywhere I went, one message came through loud and clear: people living in the North feel forgotten by the Ford Conservatives. That has to change.

As Liberal Leader, I'll show up. I'll visit all 12 northern ridings every year because leadership starts with listening.

The challenges facing northern regions are unique and misunderstood

Highway safety

Highway safety is a major issue reflected in soaring fatalities and road closures. Thousands of tonnes of essential goods and materials — critical minerals, lumber, energy — are transported across these roads every day.

The Ford Conservatives are more interested in spending taxpayers' money on a tunnel under the 401. As Premier, I'll invest in the highways that connect the North.

Economic development

In some areas, unemployment is at 0 per cent. Policies focused on job creation don't help. Northern communities need help recruiting skilled labour to fill jobs and deliver services to people. They also need economic stability to weather the boom and bust of commodity prices.

These regions generate 60% of the resources that fuel Ontario's prosperity, yet they are forgotten and misunderstood.

Newcomers are also crucial to northern economic development, but better incentives and supports are needed to allow them to live and work in the North.

We'll take a regional approach to economic development, creating opportunities for people to build their careers and their lives in the North.

A healthcare system that works for Northern Ontario

After 27 years in healthcare, it's my priority to build a healthcare system that is focused on meeting patients and communities' needs, everywhere in Ontario.

Delivering healthcare is a massive challenge. No one should have to drive hours just to see a doctor.

Right now, a woman who is pregnant in Hearst cannot access obstetrics care in her own community. She must travel to Timmins at 37 weeks pregnant and pay out of pocket to wait in a hotel until she gives birth. This is just one example of the unacceptable situation facing people in the North.

Given critical shortages of health professionals, hospitals and other organizations are forced to rely on private agencies for nurses or other professionals. They are being gouged with no restrictions on the prices these agencies charge.

Research and innovation

The relationship between post-secondary institutions and mining and other industries in Northern Ontario is impressive. These institutions are a pipeline of skilled workers for regional industries.

Northern Ontario deserves a government that listens, shows up, and acts.

I will take these actions today to address these urgent challenges

This is just the beginning. I will continue to develop a comprehensive policy platform with the people, communities and leaders in Northeastern and Northwestern Ontario.

• Be a present Liberal Party leader and future Premier for the Northwest and Northeast, including visiting all 13 provincial ridings at least once per year.
• Invest in infrastructure to improve safety on Highway 11, 17, and the Trans-Canada, through highway twinning or the two-plus-one model, and complete twinning on Highway 69.
• Have a regional policy approach for the North. This means supporting colleges and universities to feed the regional job pipeline and encouraging innovation and research development with local industry. Distributing government jobs in the North to spread opportunity, ensure northern perspectives guide government decisions, and create economic stability.
• Deliver a regional coordinated healthcare plan that invests in recruitment and retention and homegrown workers, in collaboration with providers and NOSM, reduces reliance on agency nursing, and expands services that actually help northern communities, such as HART hubs, and home care.
• Lead by example when creating jobs in Northern Ontario. This includes strategies to encourage Ontario public sector workers to live and work in the North and exploring shifting government offices and operations to Northern Ontario.
• Hold telecom companies accountable for delivering fast, reliable cell service, so every community is connected.
• Create true and enduring partnerships with Indigenous communities to ensure everyone benefits from jobs, investments and revenues today and tomorrow.
• Ensure Franco-Ontarians receive services and support in their first language by investing in French Language Services for public sector services like government, schools and hospitals.
• Capitalize on partnerships through the federal National Food Security Strategy to create new regional food hubs in Northeastern and Northwestern Ontario.
• Consider adjusting the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) point system to incent newcomers to settle and fill jobs in the North. Ensure newcomer settlement programs are comparable to those in Southern Ontario.