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After years of impulsive measures that served to tell the visiting public they weren’t welcome in Prince Edward County, the message may be changing. The most onerous rules and ham-fisted regulations are slowly—too slowly—being unwound and softened. While not yet able to utter a full-throated embrace of the tourism economy, Council seems less inclined to lay itself down on the bridges to block it.
It is not entirely clear whether a plurality of Council has come to understand its local economy is vital to the interests of all residents, or whether they have convinced themselves that the current “balance” is the thing they were aiming for after all. In any event, it is progress. It is better that voices are emerging around the council table promoting the visitor economy— and recognizing its role in supporting vital structures in our community. It’s a good thing.
It can be painful watching policymakers wrestle with issues of the County economy— like the TikTok images of a massive tiger tenderly cradling a wee piglet. Council’s instincts are screaming that it must crush and devour the tourist economy for the sake of quiet streets and easy parking for the idle Subaru set, yet its maternal instincts have distracted it for a moment, such that it will tolerate—maybe even nurture—this vulnerable being. Maybe. For now.
Some key changes made on the welcoming front last week:
Council approved the elimination of the fee for visiting Wellington Beach. (It was a money-losing venture.) Instead, it will hire a beach steward for the season to care for and manage the facility better.
It is also streamlining the rules and processes around sidewalk patios. Applications will be more straightforward, the season will be extended a couple of weeks to November 1, and new patio applicants will be guided by County staff regarding the dos and don’ts to avoid confusion and potential conflict.
Boat launches remain a work in progress. There will be no changes this year—but a full review of boat launch management and access is currently underway for implementation next year. Among the considerations: Must residents pay a fee to bring their grandchild fishing on a municipal dock? Or read a book? A fresh look at the facilities is coming to council later this year.
Still on the books, however, is the resident’s ID badge, which grants County residents exclusive parking privileges at the end of Huyck’s Point Road and Bakker Road. While the passes are popular with nearby residents, they are an ugly way to dispense access to the County’s natural beauty. Worse, it is poor management. (If there is a problem, deal with that problem. Awarding special privileges to some folks and not others doesn’t do this. It merely punishes visitors for being visitors.)
It has taken much economic pain to pierce Council’s consciousness. Credit for this must be accorded to Shire Hall staff for organizing working groups and facilitating conversations between policymakers and the folks working to earn a living in this economy.
The restaurant business has had a tough time since Covid,” explained Emily Cowan, Director of Community Services, Programs and Initiatives, speaking to adjustments to sidewalk patio rules and processes. Cowan may well have been talking about the broad County tourism market in general, where every available metric points to a tough year in 2023.
Cowan reports that County businesses are still struggling with staff shortages, a general economic downturn, rising costs, and reduced visitor spending.
“It’s taking a long time to recover,” said Cowan.
Councillor Chris Braney praised the outreach.
“You did a full 360 review and involved everyone in the conversation,” said Braney. “Those conversations were immensely helpful.”
Perhaps an inflection point. Such conversations are crucial. Listening is, too. Acting on what is learned is leadership.
Has Council fully connected these dots? Popular opinion wafts against this happening.
A community of mostly retirees lacks the interconnectedness to the local economy that tends to alleviate the grumbling and existential aggravations. It is only through conversations we may hope to bridge the chasm. Conversations about how the health of the community is directly tied to the health of the local economy. Schools. Roads. Waterworks. Conversations with each other.
We need more conversation.
rick@wellingtontimes.ca
One does not initiate a conversation with an insult. That is exactly what the phrase ‘idle subaru set’ seems to be. A reading of your commentary seems to imply that you are directing this comment towards retirees yet it is those very people that moved here to avail themselves of all of those very same things that tourists appreciate. As a retiree I am well aware that the hospitality industry is a major economic player. At the same time I am also aware that tourism has had a hand in the housing affordability crisis in the County. I am speaking of STA’s and in particular ‘whole home STA’s’ which from statistics in 2019 comprised 10% of the housing stock in the County. The same article from which that information was obtained indicated that those units were largely made up from what was moderately priced housing stock. Affordable housing was taken out of the mix and replaced with tourist accommodations.
We retirees live here and spend our money here. We may not be staying in your STA, but we eat in restaurants, visit wineries and craft brewers as well as galleries and artisans. We know that these exist because of tourists. So please don’t insult us and maybe we will have a conversation with you.
Great perspective, thank you for voicing the sentiments of many.
The local economy has many vital and vibrant parts. It is not the exclusive preserve of “the idle Subaru set”.