Bringing the North a Voice
Northern Ontario Party
Nickel Belt
Riding Association
Welcome
Greetings from the Nickel Belt Riding Association
On behalf of the Northern Ontario Party’s Nickel Belt Riding Association, we'd like to thank you for your interest in our party. As the 2018 Ontario Election nears it is more important than ever for Northerners to make themselves heard.
Don't be shy. If you have a question email us. If you have an idea, we want to hear it. Got a complaint to air, share that too.
Our way of life is special…and the NOP is determined to keep it that way! But we need your help.
Defending the North is going to take a lot of time and effort. And we're counting on people like yourself to win a seat at Queen's Park. Your continued support is vital. With the people of Northern Ontario on our side there will be a lot of surprised faces come Election Day.
Our Nickel Belt candidate for 2018 is Matthew Del Papa.
A lifelong resident of Capreol, Mat is more than happy to talk to you. Contact him through nickelbeltnop@gmail.com
It is going to take a strong team of dedicated Northerners to make this next election a success for the Northern Ontario Party and all Northerners. Please consider joining us.
Thank you
Myles Clayton
Media Manager
Northern Ontario Party
&
Matthew Del Papa
Northern Ontario Party
Nickel Belt Candidate
Bringing Prosperity Back to the North
Why Join the Northern Ontario Party
Northern Ontario is unique and in no way can it be governed the same as Southern Ontario. The way of life varies even riding to riding with different issues and concerns. We feel that we need to ensure Northern Ontario's voice is front and foremost. No compromising or negotiations
A Commitment to Excellence
OUR GOAL
Northern Ridings are the focus of our party. We aim to endorse a candidate in each Northern riding. We are focused on Northern Issues that affect the longevity, well being, economy, manufacturing and future generations of Northern Ontario.
With all the issues that are being overlooked by the Legislature of Ontario, The Northern Ontario Party feels that a different approach needs to be taken to ensure Northern Ontario is no longer treated as a colony.
The Time is Now to Make a Difference
BECOME A MEMBER
When we work together, magic happens
The Northern Ontario Party strongly rely on the membership to ensure that policies, platforms and party direction match the different ridings
By being a member your voice does make a difference with decisions and input on important decisions
Northern Ontario Party is your party and will be straightforward, honest , transparent and financially responsible
Memberships start at $10 dollars and can be purchase through the Party's main website at www.northernontarioparty.org
the political system, and will keep pushing until the correct balance is reached.
Our Northern Platform
Over the last year, the party's membership has been busy creating and voting on our platform.
The Northern Ontario Party believes the greatest asset to our party is our members and they should guide our party into the future.
We are happy to say our party will never employ a party whip.
To find out more please click on the link below
Northern Ontario Party and Northern Transportation
Do you remember watching the old western movies, where the villain would tie the victim to the railway tracks only to have the victim rescued by a cowboy at the last minute? Well, that scene could never be filmed here. Why? Because sadly, I could be tied to this track all week and not have to worry about a train coming by.
I'm Tommy Lee, Vice President of the Northern Ontario party.
As the Liberal government tours across Northern Ontario seeking input from Northerners toward their Multi-Modal Transportation Strategy, there are a number of things that they are not telling you that deserve to be brought to light.
First off, it should be known that they have systematically cut transportation services across the North to a point now that it's a true reflection of the attention we get from Queen's Park as Northerners. The Ontario Northland Transportation Company providing bus service to many parts of Northern Ontario, has been cut to a point where people in places like Long Lac, can only travel west four days a week, and east three days a week. So basically they are left hoping that the travel needs that life presents matches up with an inconvenient bus schedule.
It should be noted that Ontario Northland which is now strictly a transportation company with buses and trains, falls under the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines which allows the legislature to treat it as a different crown corporation.
GO Transit, falls under the Ministry of Transportation, has the same system, yet has a different mandate.
Ontario Northland has a mandate to break even, while GO Transit has been given a blank cheque to throw billions into station upgrades and even operate a new rail line (the Golden Rail) at a huge loss bringing passengers from downtown Toronto to Pearson airport.
And are you ready for this one? Ontario Northland was instructed to provide free advice and consulting to China, ya FREE, for a Ring of Fire rail line. That's sort of like you having to train someone who your company is bringing in to replace you as your being let go.
Ontario Northland is capable of providing transportation service to ALL of Northern Ontario, but currently only provides service to people from Hearst to Toronto through Sudbury and North Bay, also from Sudbury to Ottawa. Not all runs are 7 days a week. Their only passenger train service runs from Moosanee to Cochrane. Private motor coach companies like Greyhound, Caribou, and Kasper, provide service to other parts of Northern Ontario while many communities have no service at all. If you live in the City of Elliot Lake, you have to find a ride to Blind River if you need to catch the Greyhound bus.
The Ontario Government joined in a very expensive “environmental program” for a natural gas bus which takes 8 hours to refuel and has a very limited range. While they won't notify the public of this, they state that the bus is in use. Further investigation shows that it's lucky to be used once a week.
Ontario Northland has a newer bus fleet, however with the distance the buses travel, and the extra wear and tear caused by our Northern weather and road conditions, forces the fleet to have constant maintenance and reduces the overall number of buses in service. Numerous times having temporary buses rented or buses in the fleet being sent right back out without the required maintenance. The state of the fleet and the total number of buses in service is a disgrace compared to the Southern Ontario equivalent.
GO Transit is continually increasing routes, as Ontario Northland continues to streamline with minimal growth.
Northern Ontario needs reliable and consistent public transportation not just in Northeastern Ontario but also in the Northwest. We need regular passenger train service running from Kenora in the west, clear across to Mattawa in the East connecting with North/South lines, finally bringing our communities together.
We're not asking for special treatment, no, we're just looking for fair treatment. Sure there's not as many of us living in the North, but there's about 3/4 of a million of us that are toughing it out calling Northern Ontario home because we're a resource rich region with loads of potential, that can turn into a vibrant and healthy economy based on mining and manufacturing if we get the proper transportation infrastructure in place. To the rest of Ontario and the government of the day: Please, just give us a fair shake. Stop making it harder to live and do business in Northern Ontario.
As roughly 10% of Ontario's population lives in Northern Ontario, providing roughly 10% of the taxes, does it not make sense that roughly 10% of the transportation budget should be spent in Northern Ontario? Why are we as Northerners paying for the GTA's newest GO train stations?
Check out www.northernontarioparty.org for more information on how you can support the ONLY party who's ONLY concern is the betterment of Northern Ontario.
Thank-you!
Need for a New Northern Ministry of Fish and Wildlife
It’s been no secret that the Northern Ontario Party has been advocating for greater independence and control over Northern Ontario affairs. This is especially true when it comes to Northern Ontario’s abundance of natural resources. Currently, Northerners have little to no say on how our mineral resources are handed out to multinational corporations, how our lakes are stocked or which animals we can harvest during Ontario’s hunting seasons. Currently, Queens Park makes huge profits from selling fishing and hunting licenses for people to take fish and game out of Northern Ontario, while the North sees little if any return from the Provincial Government. Even our Crown land is now charged at a premium rate that scares most but the harden, diehard American who wants to experience a Canadian weekend out on one of our pristine lakes. But who benefits from this? Is it The small Northern business that sells a couple dozen worms? No, it is Queen’s Park.
The Northern Ontario Party, demands that Queens Park develops two new ministries that are put under the control of Northern Ontario and operated by Northerners. The NOP wants the creation of a Northern Ministry of Natural Resources and a Northern Ministry of Fish and Wildlife.
The Northern Ministry of Fish and Wildlife will allow Northerners to make hunting and fishing regulations that make sense to the North. Currently, the MNRF Minister Kathryn McGarry, although she appears to be a knowledgeable person with regards to health care and issues that affect her southern riding of Cambridge, has little to no experience with Northern Ontario or how to manage Northern wildlife. Over the last few years, our Moose and Rabbit populations have dropped dramatically, Instead of actively seeking a positive solution like controlling predator populations or speaking with First Nations to come up with reasonable agreements for a shared harvest. The MNRF puts out a statement that these populations decline must be because of global warming.
Trevor Holliday states many Northerners are upset with the constant regulation changes and nonsensical rules that the Government force upon Northern Hunters.
First, it was ending the spring bear hunt that created a huge population of nuisance bears invading our cities, then it was protecting the cormorants, an invasive species that wrecked havoc on our lakes now it’s reducing our Moose and rabbit hunts. When will the GTA focused politicians admit they don’t have a clue how to manage the Northern wildlife and let the best and most qualified people take over this precious resource… The only people for this job is Northerners
Northern Ontario Party
A Vote on Education
'I have heard debates back and forth on both of them and that’s why I am saying people need to decide'
NOP Leader Trevor Holliday speaks to the media outside E.W. Norman elementary school today.
Northern Ontario Party Leader Trevor Holliday stood on the grass at EW Norman Elementary School, which just happens to be right across the street from Holy Cross Elementary School which is part of the Catholic School Board.
Holliday chose the location to make a point about the lack of attention he says education is getting from the government, especially when it comes to the discussion of operating under one single school board.
“There is no more beating around the bush or hiding stuff, we are calling people forward saying education is hurting and it needs attention, stop hiding it,” said Holliday at his small press conference outside of the Near North District elementary school.
“It’s the elephant in the room, we are going to draw attention to it and if we hear the leader of the Liberals stating they want fairness in the next election. Well, schools in Northern Ontario have been left out to that equation, where is the fairness in the north. We want fair education, we want fair freedom of speech in northern Ontario.”
Holliday is calling for a referendum on the subject.
He hopes to see the Liberal government Introduce legislation in the fall sitting to provide for a referendum to be held in conjunction with a provincial general election as such legislation does not currently exist.
He’s also asking for a plebiscite to be held during the next provincial election on the educational system to figure out from the people whether there should be one school board or continue status quo with the current four school systems in the province.
“That needs to be left to the people. I have heard debates back and forth on both of them and that’s why I am saying people need to decide,” said Holliday.
“No more legislature hiding it or making up the decisions. They are voted in by the people so why not represent the people by having a simple vote on the ballot to say one school system or keep going the way it is.”
