The big three of highway safety, housing development, and doctor recruitment are on the priority list of the new president of the Northeastern Ontario Municipal Association. Cochrane Mayor Peter Politis says having more people move here is another one. He says we’re not very good at promoting ourselves.
“There’s a real urgency and need right now, considering all the economic development opportunities taking place; the ageing of the workforce if you will; how it’s moving out of the region, and how those people will be replaced.”
Politis says experts will be engaged to join the dialogue on what that really means, and how to approach it.
“Northeastern Ontario is a very large area,” he continues. “We’re really looking at the Highway 11 corridor, what we call the Northern Corridor. So we’re looking between Matheson and Hearst and Hornepayne, and to look at that area and see if we can’t actually develop our own brand and market that brand.”
Part of that brand, Politis believes, is the good lifestyle of the region, which is perpetually a well-kept secret elsewhere.
NEOMA is made up of 14 municipalities between Matheson and Hornepayne.
