Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk says while there may not be a lot of concrete decisions made at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference, there are always conversations about key issues and ideas for solutions shared.
On the opening day of the conference in Ottawa yesterday, Mayor Panciuk says the Eastern Ontario Mayors Caucus met and talked about housing and medical services.
“Including doctors and our hospital and nurses. We talked about homeslessness and the growing social problems that are leading to, uh, to homelessness. And we talked about the 401 expansion which is still one of our major priorities and specifically to be able to accelerate the construction of the Belleville East Arterial Road.”
Like Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison, Panciuk says they’ve had discussions with other municipalities who also want to see VIA Rail restore route 651 from Kingston to Toronto for people who wish to commute.
Another issue they’re working on is getting approval for the ministerial zoning order and the official plan amendment for the proposed development at Black Bear Ridge.
“We’re still waiting and they’re saying they’re getting very close to issuing that permission so once that happens that’ll be very good news for us from an economic and from an additional housing point of view.”
The proposed $1.54 billion development includes a resort, hotel and residential complex to be built around the current golf course.
The conference continues through Wednesday.
