Brian Bigger wants meetings with at least five provincial ministers at AMO conference

Morning North7:16Mayor of Sudbury meets members of Ontario government

The mayor of Sudbury hopes a personal touch will help his case when he asks provincial ministers for help with Sudbury issues. Brian Bigger is at a conference for municipal leaders and is looking for face-time with Ontario government ministers.

The mayor of Greater Sudbury says he is at a conference of the province's municipalities to get up close and personal with different provincial ministers.

Brian Bigger, who is a board member with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, said it's more effective to talk about issues face-to-face than over the phone or e-mail.

He has already invited the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure to Sudbury.

"[I] met with Minister Brad Duguid and that really was to let him be more aware of our downtown master plan and invite him up to the City of Sudbury," Bigger said.

He has also spoken with Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli about bringing some Hydro One accounts within the city's boundaries under the umbrella of Greater Sudbury Hydro.

And he has meetings planned with the Ministers of Aboriginal Affairs and Citizenship and Immigration, including David Zimmer.

"The First Nations communities have — or see — opportunities where we might be able to work together on things like sharing waste management services and these types of things."

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario is meeting in Niagara Falls.