Partnership between Algoma U, NOSM, will help ‘economically and socially’: Romano

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Published Sep 08, 2023  •  Last updated 8 hours ago  •  4 minute read

Sault MPP Ross Romano has a number of priority projects he’s continuing to work on this fall. Article content

Sault MPP Ross Romano’s greatest hope is to foster strong partnerships that result in a mental health and addictions research centre in Sault Ste. Marie.

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The project is one that he has been fostering for a number of years and the preliminary steps have begun. His goal is to see the relationships between Sault Area Hospital, Sault College, Algoma University and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine continue to materialize to the point where shovels are in the ground to create a local medical school.

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While a Memorandum of Understanding has been inked between the two universities through a formal partnership and feasibility study, the result can’t come fast enough for Romano.

“I think something like that would grow our opportunities here, both economically and socially and also offer help with our doctor shortage and the need for more services that will go a long way to adding to our resources,” he said.

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It’s a project Romano has been working on since he was first elected and has always believed in the importance of developing a research centre for mental health and addictions.

“That’s something I would really like to see get off the ground and a research centre and medical school here and grow, along with the opportunities that come from that,” he said.

Romano is getting ready to head back to the Ontario legislature for its fall sittings and the mental health and addiction crisis is one of several priority items for the community on his agenda.

The new community resource centre and addiction treatment centre, both on the cusp of opening, will offer more services for the city’s vulnerable and those who need it, Romano said.

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“Now that we look forward to the infrastructure here we need to look forward and turn to how to get the human resources to staff these places,” Romano said, an issue he raised several years ago.

He’s hopeful the MOU will continue along that path and those projects and agreements will get completed so investment can be made in the research and human resources for mental health and addictions.

He’s spoken to Mayor Matthew Shoemaker about the city’s desire to have a safe consumption site located here, and it’s up to the city to do the necessary preliminary work and consultation before it moves forward to both the federal and provincial government for assistance to help secure a location and apply for capital and operational funding.

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Romano vows to continue to advocate for Sault Ste. Marie’s fair share of funding for the project.

Romano said it’s important Sault Ste. Marie stay on course and continue to get work done that has already started in the community, both from a public and private sector perspective.

That work, he said, has resulted in more immigrants filling local jobs, an increase in the Sault’s population and development which will help the local and regional economy.

“We want to continue to pursue opportunities that exist at our post secondary sector, and investments at the college and university,” he said.

He believes that the Sault has one of the best economic situation from the perspective of people without jobs, because all trades and sectors are looking for employees to fill job vacancies.

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“I think that will continue for some time,” he said. “But we have to continue with the type of investments we’ve made and continue to ensure we have the human resources we need to do that.”

Romano also wants to continue to pursue the housing crisis issue and said he’s continuing to look for opportunities that will lead to more shovels in the ground for housing starts, in addition to the additional units that are under construction or approved.

“Things are moving in the right direction for our community,” he said.

The demand for more housing starts is there and “we can always to do more. . . . We’re in a situation that the demand is still high and we need to continue looking forward and be innovative and look at new opportunities.”

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Romano said Sault Ste. Marie’s population finally appears to be growing and that means more opportunities should be examined to make the city even better.

“We want to do everything we possibly can to give young people, young families, the opportunity to realize their dream of home ownership, and quite frankly, I think that dream is more attainable to us in a community like ours,” Romano said.

As a result of development and the transformation of Algoma Steel to electric arc furnace making, Romano said he’s discussed the energy issue with Shoemaker, as well as provincial government ministers and the premier.

A new transmission line is needed between Third Line and Algoma Steel to provide additional needed power to the community and to attract new manufacturing in the city.

“I have a great deal of confidence” the regulatory pieces will be completed and coordinated between the stakeholders that will allow for the construction of the transmission infrastructure needed, he said.

Romano anticipates the fall to be busy for government and says he’ll continue to work on major files for Sault Ste. Marie.

“I’m proud of how far we’ve come and I continue to be motivated with where we are going,” he said.

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