Our economic future won't look like the past.
Owen Sound's golden manufacturing years, with large and medium-sized plants, well-paid jobs and pensions, railway and water transport and associated services, are over.
Ontario has lost its competitive edge and no longer attracts new plants. Globalization with lower wages in other countries has drained our manufacturing sector.
Electric power rates are prohibitive to industrial expansion.
The threat of higher taxes because of the large provincial debt and deficit deter manufacturing relocation.
Our harbour badly needs dredging and would benefit from divestiture by the present owner, Transport Canada.
Owen Sound's comparative distance from the Greater Toronto and Hamilton golden triangle with relatively slow highway transport discourages relocation of retiring Ontarians with family ties in the big cities.
Owen Sound is not Orangeville; close enough to the GTA to be a bedroom community. Owen Sound is not Collingwood, a quicker commute from the GTA and with the Blue Mountain resort fueling condominium development.
We can't look back to our past or sideways to our neighbours for economic development ideas.
Owen Sound's Competitive Advantages
Owen Sound has a diversified economy at the centre of the Bruce Peninsula-North Grey region.
The city retains some larger plants that have achieved manufacturing excellence.
We are attracting new, smaller manufacturers in the knowledge and high-technology sectors.
Georgian College and the regional hospital are both growing and creating new professional teaching and medical jobs.
North Grey County, the waters of Owen Sound and Georgian Bay, the Bruce Trail and the Bruce Peninsula offer world class out door and cottage recreation amid some of Ontario's best natural environment.
New residential development has gained momentum in the past four years.
We are a cultural incubator with the Georgian Bay Symphony, the Georgian Bay Youth Orchestra, the Sweetwater Festival, Summerfolk, The Leith Summer Concert Series, the Grey Roots, Maritime and Billy Bishop Museums, the Tom Thompson Art Gallery, Tin Roof Press, numerous private art galleries and a the Owen Sound and the North Grey Union Public Library.
The future
Owen Sound will lead the knowledge economy in Grey Bruce especially with the advent of affordable high speed internet and the growth of specialized medical services and education.
We are attracting smaller companies working in new technologies to produce specialized products such as drones and specialized services such as wetlands that clean up agricultural wastewater.
We are leading Grey Bruce in the development of fine arts that create jobs and careers for artists and artisans.
Owen Sound's restaurants and Farmers Market are encouraging the development of organic and gourmet farming.
The new era of small is beautiful in business, energy generation, new technology and new tastes and products is creating new jobs in Owen Sound.
Action
In my second term in as your mayor, Owen Sound will:
1) Bring affordable high speed Internet to every business, home office and residence in Owen Sound, working with Grey County, the province and private interests.
2) Secure the dredging and divestiture of the habour.
3) Conduct its affairs with fiscal responsibility to keep taxes and user feeds competitive.
4) Streamline the development approvals process through the refinement of the Development Team at City Hall and in collaboration with other regulatory authorities including Grey County and the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority
5) Expand the Farmers' Market booth space to make room for more local food producers and artisans
6) Educate the province to understand that stable provincial funding and affordable hydro rates will create economic opportunity, jobs and tax base
7) Collaborate with the private sector and neighbouring municipalities to foster investment in recreation and tourism and the attraction of more users and visitors
8) Promote and encourage excellence in manufacturing
9) Invest in the development office's promotion of Owen Sound as the place to locate new business and to live
10) Examine all bylaws and municipal regulations to find ways to attract small business in the knowledge, technology and the manufacturing of specialized products.
Source - Deb Haswell campaign