The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) is welcoming several initiatives in the province’s fall economic statement.

FONOM says a number of measures will benefit the region, including increases to Ontario Municipal Partnership funding, the Community Infrastructure Program and the Connecting Links program.

Officials say other positives include continued investment in clean water systems, housing affordability and transportation – including a pilot project to bring ride-sharing services to communities along the Northlander corridor.

“The increase to the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund and the higher minimum under the Ontario Community Infrastructure Program are positive steps for our member communities,” says Dave Plourde, President of FONOM. “We’ll continue to advocate on issues that impact Northern municipalities, including the effects of tariffs on local economies. As this is a Fall Economic Statement, FONOM looks forward to continuing our work with the province to ensure Northern communities can address their current challenges and are prepared to contribute to Ontario’s overall success.”

Overall, FONOM says it’s encouraged by the province’s commitment to balance its books by 2027-2028 while continuing to invest in key infrastructure and affordability measures.

The province projects the 2025–26 deficit to be $13.5 billion, down $1.1 billion from the spring budget.

It’s also forecasting a deficit of $7.8 billion in 2026–27 and a $200 million surplus in 2027–28.

Richard Coffin has been a reporter and news anchor on the radio in North Bay for over 25 years.  From premiers to people in the neighbourhood, he enjoys connecting with newsmakers and writing stories that matter to area listeners on a variety of topics including healthcare, education, politics, sports and more.