NEWS RELEASE DEBBIE AMAROSO MAYOR OF SAULT STE. MARIE ************************ Northern mayors meet to focus on Northern Ontario SAULT STE.

NEWS RELEASE

DEBBIE AMAROSO MAYOR OF SAULT STE. MARIE

************************ Northern mayors meet to focus on Northern Ontario

SAULT STE. MARIE - Mayor Debbie Amaroso hosted a meeting with Northern Mayors earlier today to discuss matters affecting Northern Ontario.

“We discussed issues of importance for Northern Ontario and have agreed to work together on behalf of all our communities,” stated Mayor Amaroso.

The Mayors of the five largest cities in Northern Ontario pledged to unite Northern Ontario through a council of mayors concept that is inclusive of all northern communities.

This initiative was unanimously supported by mayors: Al McDonald, Keith Hobbs, Tom Laughren, Debbie Amaroso and Marianne Matichuk.

The mayors agreed: “We must have a united voice for the North to be successful. We are working together to develop this concept for the future success and growth of Northern Ontario.”

Priority issues also discussed at the forum included the continued development of the Northern Ontario Growth Plan and the importance of competitive industrial energy prices.

“High energy costs are putting much of Northern Ontario’s energy intensive, resource processing industries at a competitive disadvantage. This reality is detrimental to attracting and sustaining economic viability for our communities,” stated Tom Laughren, mayor of Timmins.

The Northern mayors will meet again early in the new year.

************************ Pictured left to right: Mayor Keith Hobbs, City of Thunder Bay, Mayor Tom Laughren, City of Timmins, Mayor Debbie Amaroso, City of SSM, Mayor Marianne Matichuk, City of Greater Sudbury and Mayor Al McDonald, City of North Bay.