Comment
Lennie and the rabbits
According to at least one County council member, Wellington’s small business owners all belong to the hospitality sector. As such, these folks are unworthy of Council’s attention. Don’t worry; they’ll all be gone in a few years anyway.
“We have to recognize that the hospitality industry has an extremely high failure rate,” explained Ameliasburgh councillor Janice Maynard to her colleagues at a committee meeting last week. Then pulling data out of thin air, the council member noted that Wellington’s small businesses have always been failures.
“Even before Covid, you were looking at upwards of 70 per cent who didn’t make it to the six- or seven year mark,” continued Maynard. “It’s not anything new. That’s why banks are leery. The sky isn’t falling, because that is an industry where there is often two out and two in, right?” Right.
It is such a stupid comment; it is hard to know where to begin. Wellington’s economy is much more than hospitality, her data is made up, and she knows nothing of how banks lend. But set aside every premise of the councillor’s ill-informed notions, the hospitality sector is the only one paying a tax four times a year directly to Shire Hall—more than a million dollars a year.
Simple decency, modest restraint and a modicum of self interest would suggest that the Ameliasburgh council member keep such uninformed bigotry unsaid.
Imagine folks getting up in Wellington this morning, sweeping the sidewalk, putting the coffee on, pulling bread out of the oven, then reading that Council judges their value to be unworthy of its consideration—sees their contribution as transient.
Everywhere I go in Wellington, I come across young families who have moved here—not for riches, but for a sense of place. They have come to raise their children. They are putting their savings into this community and working to Build a New Life in Prince Edward County. By doing so, they are helping the rest of us, and indeed most of council, from veering over a demographic and economic cliff.
Councillor Maynard’s comments are no slip of the tongue. The Ameliasburgh representative believes this resentment-laden garbage. In Maynard’s telling—and she isn’t alone in this—the County’s businesses, indeed most issues, are viewed through a class lens. There are only noble providers or opportunistic exploiters. Put traditional ag and trades in the first bucket. Put wineries, art galleries, restaurants and accommodation providers in the second bucket.
Such simplistic and wrong thinking is disappointing when spouted in a coffee shop, but is unacceptable for an elected official around the council table at Shire Hall. (Where are you, Mayor Ferguson?)
This column long ago abandoned the notion that local government could be a positive force in this economy. It can’t. It spends too little. It lacks rudimentary data (although that appears to be changing). And Council is so poorly informed that it remains stuck on the how-things-used-to-be track or easily distracted by trombone salesmen. Squirrel!
But Council can damage our economy— through ignorance and its reactionary impulses.
Business is tougher in 2023. (Shire Hall will know this simply by tallying Municipal Accommodation Tax receipts so far this year and comparing them to last.) Staffing. Housing prices. Rents. There are a variety of pressures—internal and external—forcing County businesses to adapt and scale back expectations.
But that’s business. One adapts. And adjusts. And carries on.
However, these folks shouldn’t have to manage a fresh new crop of smothering regulations each year. Nor should they be compelled to enforce County bylaws. They should not have to hear Council dismiss their cries—or characterize them as failures—when their knees buckle under the weight of new rules.
Successive Councils never properly recognized the transformative good that the investment and entrepreneurial energy in wineries, cideries, and brewers brought to Prince Edward County. The farm-to-table food sector. Once again this month, the County’s food scene is front and centre in Toronto Life. Other places lust after such coverage, such investment, and such success. Not your council.
The County’s success story is instead a nuisance to be managed. Why? Because a few folks are so myopic, or bigoted, they can’t see the connection between a healthy rural economy and its schools, health care, its services. Its future.
These entrepreneurs—the hospitality sector Councillor Maynard so despises—feed the dynamism of this place. The hospitality sector literally pays to fix roads for everyone else.
None of these folks is looking for handouts or special favours. But perhaps Council could listen. Perhaps it might hear the sound of a rural economy working. If it can’t help, it should have the good sense to get out of the way.
Prince Edward County is blessed to have such a vibrant and diverse tourism sector. As the author correctly points out, many jurisdictions are envious of our success. In good economic times and in bad, as evidenced by the recent damage inflicted by the pandemic, council must continue to support our local business people and not burden them with excessive regulations and restrictions. When a region is fortunate enough to possess a “Golden Goose”, such as our tourism industry, you nurture it and keep it healthy and strong. You do not prepare it for the dinner table!
Sadly, Miss Maynard is not the only councillor with little regard for small business in the County. There are two more for sure.
We have a small accommodation business just outside of Wellington. Last year’s sales were down min 30%. So far, this spring is the worst since opening in 2015.
Some people say its because of inflation, gas prices, ok maybe. But, this I know to be fact. Last year we had 4 separate stays from our repeat guests, who stated they would not be returning. to the county. Parking restrictions and fines number one reason. Two guests in particular stated they planned to go somewhere they felt welcome. We work hard to ensure our guests are happy and comfortable. Hearing this just sucks!
Miss Maynard and some other’s on council look at us as greedy tourist operators trying to make a quick buck. But we work in county , live in the county and every nickel we make, we spend in the county. Same goes for our employees.
County is now over regulating small business, Increased fines, every changing bylaws, followed up with heavy enforcement.
We are considering packing up, moving to a more conducive municipality.
So well said. As a 27 year resident of Wellington and one who has seen her taxes do from $800 to $8000 I am appalled at the treatment this town receives from council.
Our side walks are cracked and broken, our trees are neglected. Only one of our branded sailboat lights still lights up and we have been subjected to draconian laws about our tiny beach, parking and even how many umbrellas our cafe’s can have. With two hotel/ motels ( soon to be three or is it four?) and four and more, restaurants we are doing more than our share to add to the county’s economy and tourist experience and yet as our only waterfront road slides into the lake and our cross-walks are made in useable by the choking black cables from who knows what, we have heard the message loud and clear, for the council, Wellington is just not worth the effort, but it is a nice little earner. If only it would just shut up!
I agree Rick. Well done ! Maybe they should vote out a non believer in what makes The County work and grow.
I couldn’t agree more!