The shortage of health professionals in Northern Ontario is a major concern to the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities.
Board members met in Little Current last Friday to discuss several issues, with health professional shortages being a priority, according to board chair Danny Whalen.
Whalen says the organization will have to ask the province for an increase in enrolment at the Northern School of Medicine to address the shortages in communities.
He says it was welcome news to hear that the scholarships and bursaries at Laurentian University and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine are secure, but the board plans to contact the Ministry of Health for more funding for small hospitals to attract and retain nurses.
He emphasizes there are communities in the North that do not have a physician or enough health professionals to sustain proper care of their residents, which is a high priority during the pandemic.
Whalen talked about some other highlights of the meeting. He recalls it started its last meeting of
2021, pausing for a Moment of Silence in honour of the late Austin Hunt. Â Aussie, a long-time
Board Member and Past President of FONOM passed away on November 10th at the age of 95.
During the meeting, the Board received presentations from Corina Moore and Al Spacek of
Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, Mary Dawson-Cole and Al Spacek of the
Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, and Dr. Robert Haché of Laurentian University.
The board appreciates receiving an update on the recent activities of these organizations.
“We were happy to hear the account of ONTC’s Test Train” and “MPAC’s exciting venture in Northern
Ireland,” stated Whalen. Dr. Haché reassured the Board that the CCAA process is not impacting the student life of those enrolled in Laurentian’s programs.
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
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.
