Fednor To Establish Advisory Board: Local Members to Be Donald Paterson
and Doug Smith
by Scott A. Sumner
Thunder Bay Business
The Fednor program has done well in Northern Ontario and Thunder Bay in particular according to Joe Comuzzi, MP for Thunder Bay Superior North. “ We have created
205 direct jobs and 400 to 600 spin off jobs created from FedNor. How will make Fednor more responsive to the community?,” smiles Comuzzi. “ There are many good things to write about like the marine conservation area recently announced.”
Accompanying Joe Comuzzi was Tony Clement , Minister responsible for Fednor. “ This Aviation Centre of Excellence at Confederation College is a fitting place for today’s announcement as we invested over $6 million for the college including $500,000 for this centre. Fednor acts as a catalyst. It has helped Northern Ontario to develop economically, working for the betterment of Northern Ontario by creating an environment to try and grow and have people prosper. It is now time to make Fednor work better by creating a federal advisory
board that will come from Northern Ontario,” announced Clement. “ The greatest asset we have is our people.The people are representative of Northern Ontario. Locally Doug Smith and Don Paterson have been named to he board and will help develop the long term strategic vision of FedNor. They will serve on a volunteer basis with no compensation except expenses.”
“ Canada is doing well economically but not every area has access to the boom and it is not shared by every segment of the economy like forestry. N W Ontario could be an area of new investment. I want Fednor to be involved in strategic analysis to be more than just a place to
get money. We have good access to the cabinet table and the Prime Minister is connected to Northern Ontario,” stated Clement. “ His last stop was a good indication of that. He wants the area to thrive. We have a guaranteed 5 year budget for Fednor.”
“ Parry Sound and Muskoka have been historically part of Northern Ontario. In Parry Sound the mean income is lower than Thunder Bay. FedNor is working well. Thunder Bay at at the latitude of Vancouver. Northern Ontario means what is in your heart and soul, your history and
culture. That is the real boundary of Northern Ontario,” noted Clement. “ I am very optimistic about Thunder Bay. When you look at Thunder Bay you see a regional centre. The future for Thunder Bay can be a world leader in many areas. There was a report a few years ago in Toronto by the Board of Trade there that said we should concentrate our efforts on
large cities. I think that is a outdated view. With today’s technology and brainpower being located throughout the country places like Thunder Bay can be world’s leaders just as easily and quickly as places like Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver. So I come at this as a optimist
but Fednor has to continue to do its part. It will do it’s part in a strategic direction so Thunder bay can be the best it can be.”
Clement consulted with the local MP and did a review of some excellent people who have taken on leadership positions to fill his board. Fednor will soon have an inaugural meeting and a process for strategic planning in a evolutionary way will begin with their expertise which will help us, according to Clement.
