Comment
Hijacked
Jobs. The word didn’t come up. County council met for more than an hour and 40 minutes last week to discuss plans by a Hillier winery seeking permission to expand its commercial operations to enable it to host special events. (See story here). But at no time, in that 100 minutes, did the notion of jobs or employment arise around the council table. Not once.
It begs the question: if councillors have no interest in job creation in Prince Edward County, what are they doing sitting in those chairs?
Some basics. The median age of a County resident is 51.6 years according to the Vital Signs report produced by the County Community Foundation last year. A quarter of our population is 65 or older. In demographic terms we are well under replacement levels, that is, that we are producing far too few children to sustain our population. Demographically it is a dead end. Literally.
The choices are stark. Either we work to create and nurture job opportunities in this community, giving young families a reason to stay, or we watch it calcify into a single demographic of seniors.
This seems plain enough. And yet this basic reality, and its implications, appear to elude the majority of council.
When they come looking for your vote this fall they will surely tell you they are interested in creating jobs. Don’t believe them. The truth is that when presented the opportunity to assist a job creator in this community— not only did they choose not to help—many actively stood in the way.
Why? Because they are afraid. They fear change. They fear an uncertain future. Ten years after the fact, some folks still grumble about volunteer efforts to build playground equipment in Wellington park, or a boardwalk along the beach that provide access to those who would otherwise be barred from exploring this awe inspiring feature of the village.
Such fears are primitive and unfounded. Yet some on council prey on such fears to excuse their actions in obstructing those who seek to create jobs in this community.
In the four years the winery has welcomed visitors, hosted events and employed more than 20 people, they have received no complaints from neighbours or visitors. The municipality has received no complaints. None.
Yet council appears ready to reject the winery’s plans because a handful of neighbours have now come to Shire Hall expressing their unease about the future.
“The neighbours must be satisfied,” proclaimed Councillor Terry Shortt.
Is that the test? Really?
Twenty folks work at the winery and in the vineyards. More will be employed if it is permitted to host weddings and special events on the property. These are local jobs, occupied by folks who live in this community. The winery employs students both from this community and agriculture specialists from France. The experience they gain informs these young people—but also inspires them to tell the County story beyond these borders.
A community with our looming demographic challenges could not dream of a better form of investment—a better form of job creation in our midst. These are jobs created from the natural bounty that defines PrinceEdwardCounty. There are no smokestacks or risk of toxic exposure. These are jobs rooted in the soil that can’t be exported away.
The wine and hospitality sector attracts young people and investors. It offers hope for the future.
Yet your council appears determined to block expansion and discourage investment.
NAMING NAMES
Who are these representatives? Who on council spoke against this application? Who voted against jobs in PrinceEdwardCounty? They are: Terry Shortt, Nick Nowitski, Brian Marisett, Janice Maynard, Jamie Forrester, Dianne O’Brien, Barry Turpin, Alec Lunn and Barb Proctor. Nearly as disappointing were the remainder of council present who failed to speak up in defence of the application. (Councillors Kevin Gale, Jim Dunlop and Robert Quaiff were absent.)
So when these folks come to your door this fall, ask them what the County looks like after they’ve succeeded in shutting down investment and growth entirely. They have hijacked the County’s economy—they really ought to tell you where they are headed.
rick@wellingtontimes.ca
Great comments on dealing with change
we now live in a world where.change is constant and you cannot hide from it…. Only embrace and leverage from it
Some of these issue and mind sets of council remind me of the case study of Kodak -they (Kodak) were very traditional and thought they were in the film business and were not visionary enough to realize that they needed to be in the ” Experince ” business and look what happened to them!
The county is a unique area that needs a strategy to bring the strengths of everyone together and leverage and support each other….. and having weddings and events in vineyards versus stuffy banquet halls is all a part of how things are changing and how consumers are hungry for new experiences and memories …
There seems to be a bias by some in the county towards the Hospitalty and Tourism sector – and it’s recent economic development plan tends to play it down a little -which to me indicates some issues in regards to inclusiveness and the need for more integration of everyones needs and creative thinking
Have to go now I a having my dinner from a food truck !
John Walker
There will always be a need for entry level jobs in food and hospitality, where highschool and college students cut their teeth. I was speaking about the lack of jobs for couples and young families, who could help the population decline as referenced in the article(s) The decline in the young adult/family population ,is having a negative effect on the social fabric of PEC.
We have 2 young people living with us, working in the hospitality industry and trust me, they are not able to earn a living wage ,even”plus tips”
I don’t recall suggesting an auto plant, but I will stand by my statement that the food and hospitality industry In Prince Edward County offer very few year round, full time jobs.
.
WOW. I’m just guessing here, Mr. Parks, but if you take the time to re-read what you just wrote…well…you’re probably going to want to take another run at it.
What you seem to be suggesting is that the kind of jobs we all got our starts with are not only not good enough for today’s crop of young people but that they actually get in the way of attracting or developing the real good ones.
You are suggesting that a bird in the hand is NOT worth two in the bush.
How’s about this. See if the people struggling to find work, any work, turn up their noses at the pay you’re suggesting (which, by the way, is the national average for young people)
Ask the service workers in the local restaurants if the pay (plus tips) is so lousy that it’s actually holding them back– that having a job is getting in the way of their broader, bigger aspirations, preventing them from… what?… the opportunity to open an auto manufacturing plant that could only be achieved through unemployment?
The idea that employment is a roadblock to better employment is, to be polite, nonsense.
No one’s knocking your dreams, Mr.Parks. But why not let the real job creators have a go at it?
While you keep swinging for the fences, how about giving a nod to the people who are hitting the singles and doubles? While they round the bases and run up the score, you can keep pointing to where you’re going to hit it.
The problem with your Jobs,Jobs,Jobs mantra is that the jobs you push for are part time,occasional, waitressing, summer and low paying. The jobs you describe do not allow a young couple the financial where-with-all to buy the$300-400k fixer- uppers on Wellington’s Main Street. Frankly, the $11-12/hr. jobs are good for the Business Owner, and no one else.
That may explain why Council looks for full time jobs and finds the hospitality industry in Prince Edward somewhat lacking.