If it works, break it

For more than a decade Prince Edward County was, and largely continues to be, a model for spurring and nurturing a rural economy. Certainly the County began with some key advantages: stunning natural beauty; surrounded by water both rugged and inviting; a rich storied tradition and history; as well as proximity to about 12 million people.

But what this municipality was able to do better than most, over the past 15 years, was encourage entrepreneurs and investors to put their money to work here to lever these attributes to create entire new economic sectors, jobs and opportunities. There was a conscious and concerted effort to extract a higher yield from the growing number of visitors who “discover” the County each year.

And it worked. A wine industry grew out of the ground. Today nearly 40 wineries produce compelling and interesting Countygrown Pinot, Chardonnays and Rieslings. Some are turning heads on a world stage; all are winning loyal and devout fans.

Food—always a natural County strength—has become art: in the creation, the processing and the preparation and serving.

Some have developed wonderful niche offerings: artisanal spirits, fine specialty cheese and bread. Long established growers and producers have dove-tailed their offering to the discerning (higher yield) customers who are being drawn to this place. Fresh fruit and vegetables growers, maple syrup producers and organic growers are carving out lucrative and expanding markets for their goods.

Similarly the accommodation sector has developed impressively over the last 15 years—offering greater variety, enhanced services and compelling experiences to their guests. Their success is mirrored in the numbers that show that while overnight visitors to Sandbanks Provincial Park rose three per cent between 2006 and 2009, overnight stays in the County increased by 30 per cent.

The old notion that visitors come for the beach and contribute little to the County economy may finally be put to rest. Tourism and tourism-related business now drives $44.7 million in economic activity in County and supports 800 jobs directly.

No region in Ontario is doing a better job of growing and nurturing its God-given attributes. Yet we are about to embark, yet again, on a protracted hand-wringing exercise about how to develop the County economy—and who should do it.

Later this week a committee of council will be asked to consider a new blueprint. So politicized has economic development become, in recent years, that one of the chief proposals is to stop calling it economic development. Instead the business of nurturing and prodding economic growth, it is suggested, will heretofore be known as Community Development.

I don’t blame the drafters of this document for this bit of Orwellian-speak—economic development has been a political football for a long time. It is hard to come late into a bitter and hard-fought game and know even where to begin—particularly when wishful thinking regularly trumps reason.

Some around the council table cling to the notion that high-paying industrial firms and manufacturers will ignore the low unemployment rate here, the scarcity of a skilled workforce, the lack of transportation and supply infrastructure and the absence of the raw materials, and will nevertheless build a factory here—if only we ask. They believe the County can and should compete toe to toe with other jurisdictions for manufacturing jobs. Yet we have none of the competitive advantages of the American midwest, China or even Belleville. How do we know this? Council has bought and paid for at least two independent studies over the last decade, that have explained these basic realities to them. But dreams die hard.

And so, a year after council stripped the economic development office of much of its funding— prompting Dan Taylor to take his estimable talents to Peterborough—we will endure yet another round of thrashing about and spit-balling over economic development. As long as the conversation remains vague and amorphous some will proclaim progress. But when it gets down to details and actions, it is likely the old and familiar prejudices will surface once again. It will be a test of the abilities of CAO Merlin Dewing and his handpicked point person on the economic development file, Deb Williams, if they can extract a consensus from this council and truly move the County forward—and don’t further muddy already murky waters.

Meanwhile, representatives from jurisdictions far and wide will be prowling our restaurants, farm markets, wineries, art galleries and artisanal producers, learning how Prince Edward County transformed its sleepy rural economy into an engine for growth and prosperity. Funny that.

rick@wellingtontimes.ca