In a sign of good faith, Timmins is resuming their payments to the Cochrane DSSAB.

This, after advice from provincial ministers at last week’s Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference.  The resolution to council states the city should expect the province to intervene to work towards a solution.

At first, there was an addition to have a May 1st timeline to have everything settled before Timmins cuts off payments again.

That particular effort was defeated by a council vote.

Ward 3 councillor Joe Campbell—also currently the vice-chair of the DSSAB—made it clear he’s not opposed to Timmins getting a fair share.  But it could be an effort in futility.

“I think every time we come up with a proposal that we put to (the rest of the region), we take two steps backwards,” he said.

This has been a long-standing issue that has many different opinions around Northeastern Ontario.

And for good reason.  No town wants to pay more than they do now and Mayors have been vocal about the issue in the past, citing Timmins is the regional centre with many outlying residents contributing to its economy.

Just to put it into perspective, 2017 is showing DSSAB members contributing a combined $16,680,571.

The current model has Timmins paying just over $10.4-million dollars, far and away the most out of everyone.

(Kapuskasing is next at just over $1.2-million.)

The new proposed model would allow Timmins to save $1.1-million dollars, with all but three communities seeing savings.

The three that would pay more are Kapuskasing (over $1.18-million), Hearst (just over $438,000) and Cochrane (just over $336,000).

CLICK HERE for the full report with the cost breakdown for both models.  CLICK HERE for the discussion, under Items 4F and 6B.

The new model is on the table with the DSSAB’s next meeting on February 16th.

Filed under: Local News