MNDM politically irrelevant.

• Author: Robinson, David (American basketball player)
• Position: Ministry of Northern Development and Mines not representing Northern Ontario

One reason northeastern Ontario is going nowhere is that it does not have a voice at Queen's Park. That's not my conclusion it is the view of a blue-ribbon panel appointed by the Conservative Government.

The Northeastern Ontario Smart Growth Panel was appointed by the former minister of municipal affairs to "provide the province with strategic advice on growth issues relevant to the northeastern zone." Notice the word "advice." An appointed panel of northerners advises, and Queens Park decides. Hasn't anyone heard of representative government?

Seven members of the panel were at least elected somewhere - there were mayors from Kapuskasing, Elliot Lake, Sudbury, Iroquois Falls, and Timmins, as well as the Reeve of Nipissing.

The other appointments were a bit strange. Why did the manager of external relations for the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs get equal representation? Why did the panel include Gord Adams from the District Municipality of Muskoka? Muskoka is not even in Northern Ontario.

The answer to the second question is pretty scary. Muskoka is now technically part of the North because the province wants to pretend that investment in Toronto's cottage country is northern development.

The Smart Growth panel concluded that the North is not heard at Queen's Park:

"The panel feels that an arm's-length champion should be appointed by the provincial government to ensure that the northern perspective is reflected in decision-making."

The panel concluded with the following comments: "Now, more than ever, northerners need a voice within the provincial government to speak up for, and take action on, issues that affect the region."

The panel tried to be polite about the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, but is clearly intended to signal that MNDM is not representing the North. That is a pretty damning conclusion for a ministry created to promote the North; the panel is dead-on. Two senior people at MNDM tell me that the ministry is not there to serve the North. Mining happens all over the province, so MNDN has to serve the whole province. A ministry that represents an industry for the whole province can't be expected to represent the North effectively, and that is why the northern mayors want someone with the ear of the premier. They have decided that MNDM is politically irrelevant.

The North needs a Ministry of Northern Development and NORTHERN Mines. Southerners wouldn't notice the extra N...