Michelle Boileau, Timmins Mayor, has shared with us her highlights of 2023. Now, she’s looking ahead at the up coming year.
Boileau says there‘s a lot on the table and once the budget is passed it will be clear just what the most important issues are.
She adds the focus will be delivering on the priorities council set in 2023, one of those being an ongoing road and infrastructure program.
“By the end of this year’s construction season, our roads should be in really good shape,” she says. “We will also be seeing through the redevelopment of the Golden Manor as well as two major bridge projects.”
Boileau adds there will be some improvements and new initiatives at Timmins Transit as well as the return of Ontario Northland Passenger Rail and what that means for the city.
Late last year council asked staff to research and report on a potential multi-use recreation facility. The plan comes out of the city’s Master Recreation Plan which was approved in late November but will likely be contingent on funding from the provincial and federal governments. The mayor says she’s excited to see what’s coming.
“We will be seeing some feasibility studies this year so that’s something I’m looking forward to. Over the holidays I heard from a lot of people who were pleased council was looking at this type of opportunity to see what can be done to improve recreation,” says the Mayor.
Boileau says council will also be receiving a Cultural and Tourism Master Plan update, adding “it will give us a better sense of what we could be doing, especially with Tourism Timmins to enhance our tourism products”.
Economic development will be among the top priorities for the mayor and her fellow councillors this year, something she says should be helped by an increase in mining activity. “We want to bring some new business to the area and help existing businesses grow. I want to get a really good sense of how we can capitalize on that.”
She says policing is also an ongoing concern in the city and the union representing officers went on record last year as saying Timmins is not getting the service it requires to keep residents safe.
Boileau adds it is on her radar.
“I continue to meet regularly with the police services board chair and the chief about their perception of everything. We are starting to see the path forward.”