Northern mayors to meet in North Bay Thursday

Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk will join the mayors from Northern Ontario's five largest cities to discuss electricity rates, infrastructure projects, sustainable funding for northern cities and the Ring of Fire in North Bay on July 3.

Last year, the northern mayors identified these priority areas as keys to economic growth and organized a Northern Priorities summit to share them with provincial officials.

“With a new mandate in place for the provincial government, it’s important that Northern communities continue to build on this relationship,” Matichuk said in a release.

The Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors group includes Mayor Al McDonald of North Bay, Mayor Debbie Amaroso of Sault Ste. Marie, Mayor Tom Laughren of Timmins, Mayor Keith Hobbs of Thunder Bay and Matichuk.

Kapuskasing Mayor Al Spacek will also attend the meeting as chair of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities.