Northern Ontario Municipalities Report Severe Staffing Shortages

The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) and four northeastern Ontario workforce planning boards released a report detailing critical staffing shortages across the region's municipal sectors. The findings, based on a survey launched at the 2026 FONOM Conference in Timmins, reveal that 94% of respondents struggle to attract qualified candidates. The most severe vacancies exist in senior management, finance, and public works, followed by water and wastewater, by-law enforcement, and administrative roles.

Smaller municipalities face the most acute challenges due to limited resources and geographic isolation. All northern communities are currently competing for talent against larger urban centers and mining operations. While 75% of respondents increased salaries to attract workers, the report concludes that compensation alone is insufficient to solve the crisis.

FONOM and its partners plan to use the data to collaborate with the Ontario government on improving recruitment, training, and succession planning. Leaders emphasize that these shortages threaten the delivery of essential services and the overall economic growth of the region.