Mayor Rick Dumas Reflections on NOMA Northwestern Regional Conference
From the Editor:
THUNDER BAY, ON – September 21st through 23rd municipal leaders and representatives from accross Northwestern Ontario gathered for the NOMA (Northwestern Ontario Muncipalities Association) Northwestern Regional Conference. This year’s conference was a collaboration between NOMA, NODN (Northwestern Ontario Development Network) and NOACC (Northern Ontario Associated Chabers of Commerce) providing a unique and valuable opportunity for municipal representatives to network, share and learn from their colleagues and representatives from the business, tourism and economic development sectors.
Among those who attended were council members from Schreiber, Terrace Bay, Manitouwadge, White River, Greenstone, Nipigon (including Nipigon’s EDO Sarah Lewis) and Marathon. After the conference, OntarioNewsNorth.com Editor Karina Hunter spoke with a number of these municipal representative, below is her interview with Marathon Mayor Rick Dumas as he shares his reflections on the conference, the Leaders’ Debate, how the provincial electoral candidates in his riding of Thunder Bay-Superior North are progressing and some news about the Marathon Stillwater Project.
Keep reading in the days to follow as interview with other municipal representatives are published as well as footage from the Leaders’ Debate.
MORE INFO
The Northwestern Ontario Municipalities Association (NOMA) was organized in 1946, incorporated on September 18th 2001, and is made up of four components: the Kenora District Municipal Association, the Rainy River District Municipal Association, the Thunder Bay District Municipal League and the City of Thunder Bay. Other than the City of Thunder Bay, membership is attained by being a member of the district organization. The area we represent extends from the City of Kenora in the west to the Town of Wawa in the east.
The objects of the Association are to consider matters of general interest to the municipalities and to procure enactment of such legislation that may be of advantage to the municipalities in Northwestern Ontario and to take united action on all matters where the rights of the municipalities may be affected to advance the standards of municipal government through education and discussion and generally to promote their interests.
The organization is governed by a 19 member Board of Directors: the President, an Executive Vice President, a Vice President form each of the member organizations, the Past President and the Executive Director.
The Association holds an Annual General Meeting during the last week in April (unless determined otherwise by the Board) and is held alternatively in the three Districts. In addition to this the Board of Directors generally holds several meetings throughout the year that are open to the general membership.
The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) and the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) forms the Northern Caucus of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). Each of the organizations have three elected representatives on the Board and also have a vice president on the Executive of AMO. Although the Executive Directors of both organizations are invited to the Board meetings they do not have any voting privileges. There are also members appointed to various other committees and task forces from among our membership.
NOMA has been receiving an operating subsidy from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines for the past several years. This provides NOMA the financial ability to participate at AMO meetings as well as providing northern input to the Provincial government on issues affecting the north.
NOMA also has representation on various other bodies/organizations.
___________________________________________________
The Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce (NOACC) was founded in 1931 and is registered as a provincial lobbyist organization.
NOACC represents the interests of over 2000 local businesses through all Chambers in Northwestern Ontario.
We are the “Voice of Business” for a geographical territory stretching from Marathon to the Manitoba border.
We continuously strive to set up effective tools, systems and public policies that aim to provide progressive solutions to meet the needs of our Northern businesses and communities.
At NOACC we believe that business is the economic engine of the Northwest and is the key to a prosperous Ontario and an exceptional quality of life, both economically and socially in our region.
We are actively involved in the resolutions of issues and concerns affecting the sustainable development of Northwestern Ontario.
_____________________________________________________
The Northwestern Ontario Development Network (NODN) is a leading, inclusive economic development organization working with and supporting members and partners to develop and grow inNorthwestern Ontario.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Northwestern Ontario Development Network will be a membership-driven organization serving the community development needs of the region by:
- Responding to members professional development needs and coordinating training mechanisms where appropriate.
- Being a proactive leader of selected regional development issues as identified by our membership.
- Working collaboratively with existing organizations.
- Expanding the membership base to be inclusive of all people in the region.
- Acting inclusively to have all organizations who play a role in the regions economic development engaged in the Northwestern Ontario Development Network.
- Becoming a self-sustaining organization.
- Being a leading regional source of relevant information, expertise, and experience of its members.
