A provincial Liberal leadership hopeful has released his ‘Ontario North’ Action Plan.
Steven Del Duca unveiled his regional platform yesterday (Tuesday) in Thunder Bay.
The former Economic Development Minister pledged a four-lane expansion of the Trans-Canada Highway across its entire length.
Del Duca says to meet the ambitious goal, a long-term partnership with the federal government is needed in which both jurisdictions cover 50% of the costs.
He stresses the twinning will make it easier to get products made in Northern Ontario to market and improve safety for all travellers.
Other calls for action in his plan include:
-Ensuring that all residents of Northern Ontario have access to a nurse practitioner or doctor within 48 hours when required.
-Expand the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s mandate to include nurse and nurse-practitioner training.
-Making the investment required to build the appropriate electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Northern Ontario.
-Supporting projects that drive development and electrification in the remote north, including through the establishment of a dedicated community infrastructure fund for northern and on-reserve communities.
-Commitment to the full completion of the Wataynikaneyap Transmission Project, to provide more than 20 communities in northern Ontario with reliable electric power and seek new, similar opportunities.
-High-speed broadband internet coverage for all Northern Ontarians.
-Cancelling the Ford Government’s cuts to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and establishing a stream of the NOHFC to support northern Ontario businesses in selling to nearby export markets that are closer than southern Ontario.
-Increasing the Northern Ontario Energy Credit and expanding eligibility for this benefit.
-Establishing in northern Ontario the headquarters of government agencies and ministries.
-Working with the Federal Government and northern communities to ensure settlement of skilled immigrants in the north.
-Empowering existing regional leadership and planning groups in Northern Ontario to coordinate regional transit planning and funding in these regions. Support these groups with initial planning funding and expertise in transit building.
-Establishing a Climate Resiliency Infrastructure Fund, a new $100-million per year fund that will support all municipalities, farmers and private industry across Ontario in adapting to the impacts of climate change and building climate resiliency.
-Establishing the Ontario Rural Growth Strategy, which will establish Community Economic Development Credits and Opportunity Zones in rural communities in Northern Ontario.
Meantime, Steven Del Duca has received the endorsement of long-time party member and former Cabinet Minister Michael Gravelle.
Del Duca says it’s a tremendous boost to have Gravelle along his side.
Gravelle says Del Duca truly understands the needs of the north and that’s why he’s supporting him.
The Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP says he has worked closely with Del Duca on a number of files for a number of years.
