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FONOM names new Board and President

The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) wishes to thank Mayor Al Spacek for his many years of Leadership and Dedication as President of FONOM. Mayor Spacek announced at the FONOM Conference this spring that he would not be seeking re-election in October. An election of Officers was held at the August Board meeting in Ottawa. The new officers are; President Danny Whalen (Councillor from the City of Temiskaming Shores), 1St Vice President Mac Bain (Councillor from the City of North Bay), 2nd Vice President Paul Schoppmann (Mayor from the Municipality of St. Charles). Mayor Spacek will serve as Past President until December 1st of this year.

As a member of the Board, President Whalen will help set policy for the association and serve as a key municipal leader in the province. “AMO benefits from membership from across the Province, and a Board that reflects the diversity of Ontario’s municipal governments.  To that end, I am pleased to have Danny on the 2018- 2020 Board team,” said AMO President, Jamie McGarvey.

President Whalen commented on Mayor Spacek’s leadership of FONOM, “the high regard others have for FONOM as an organization, is directly related to the commitment and passion Al has for Northern Ontario” and “his energy will be missed, and the entire Board is committed to build on the foundation Al has help design”. Mayor Spacek commented at the end of the Board meeting, “I am not going far and I am glad I have developed so many friendships throughout Ontario while servicing as President”

During the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Annual Conference in Ottawa, the FONOM Board met with a Multi-Minister Delegates of the new Ontario Progressive Conservative Government. The meeting was a great opportunity for the new Government to meet the new Executive and Board of FONOM. Mayor Spacek and President Whalen spoke with the Ministers and their staff, about issues of concern to communities and business in Northern Ontario. Those issues include; Municipal Infrastructure funding, Connecting Link, Species at Risk impacts, 4 Laning of the Trans-Canada Highway, Railway Right of Way Property Taxation, Cannabis, Electricity Price, Fuel Price regulation, Forestry, Natural Gas Expansion, Fire Fighter Regulations, Non-Urgent Patient transfers, maintaining the number of Health Units in Northern Ontario, funding of Forestry Roads, Expanding Medical Service, Interest Arbitration and Opportunities for the Crown Land. FONOM appreciated the opportunity to meet the Ministers and we are anxious to work with their Government to create a stronger Northern Economy.

The FONOM Board met as well with members of the Ontario New Democratic Party, sharing many of the issues with them.

FONOM is an association of some 110 districts/municipalities/cities/towns in Northeastern Ontario mandated to work for the betterment of municipal government in Northern Ontario and to strive for improved legislation respecting local government in the north. It is a membership-based association that draws its members from northeastern Ontario and is governed by an 11 member board.

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