Better Governance – From the North, For the North

The Northern Ontario Party strives for independent governance for the North.

No one is under the illusion that Northern Ontario, whether it be the Near North or the Far North, is anything like the megopolis that stretches across Southern Ontario. This part of the province cannot be confused with Windsor, Niagara Falls, Kingston, Ottawa, Toronto, or any of the small cities around the GTA. Why should we allow governance of our region by them?

Northern Ontario is already governed differently than the rest of the province. But the people of Northern Ontario, don’t govern our region. We are subjected to the whims of Toronto and the South, with no real control over our transportation, natural resources, wildlife, energy, or health care. Southern Ontario is subdivided into counties, which are able to raise funds and maintain areas in the region. The North have districts, which serve as little more than lines on a map, not even useable for breaking down information for statistics.

No Federal Party will reopen the constitution to designate Northern Ontario as its own province. However, Queen’s Park can designate Northern Ontario a special administrative region, allowing us to develop our own governance model. Northern Ontario can operate independently. The region can collecting its own taxes and distribute them according to the concerns of Northern Ontario, instead of to an MPP’s pet project in Burlington. Northern Ontario can be its own province, in every way except according to the constitution.

Northern Ontario isn’t small. We would be the 6th largest province in population. Our region is the 3rd largest by size. We dwarf all 3 territories combined.

Northern Ontario must govern itself. We need decisions to come from the people of the North, to benefit the people of the North.

Seeking this new governance structure is possible, and beneficial. This is the master project that drives the Northern Ontario Party.