At the beginning of the month, Premier Doug Ford announced changes to his cabinet, precipitated by the resignation of Steve Clark who had served as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Paul Calandra was installed as the new Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Rob Flack was promoted to Associate Minister of Housing with a mandate on attainable housing and modular homes.
Clark had been at the heart of the Greenbelt development scandal, in which it was found he had violated ethics outlines included in the Members’ Integrity Act.
We caught up with Flack a week after his appointment to discuss his new role, however, there have been substantial developments since then.
Specifically on Thursday, Ford pulled off a complete turnaround on his plan to open up protected Greenbelt lands for residential development.
Category Archives: Agri-business
‘There is a need to try and make sure our council represents a little bit more of the population that we see here’ – St. Thomas municipal council candidate Petrusia Hontar
She is taking a second run for a seat on city council in the fall municipal election.
And, Petrusia Hontar, project manager at St. Thomas-Elgin Local Immigration Partnership stresses she doesn’t have all the answers to all of the issues.
So, suggests Hontar, open up a dialogue with those individuals and groups who can provide insight.
“My answer is always going to be who can we bring to the table to be more informed on this decision?
“I think that is a really strong piece I am advocating for.”
Hontar finished 14th in a field of 19 candidates for councillor with 1,995 votes in 2018.
For Hontar, establishing a safe injection site was a priority in that campaign, along with more affordable housing in conjunction with a housing strategy.
Share this:
‘We’ll get our running shoes on and get out on our listening and learning tour’ – EML PC nominee Rob Flack
There were several tire-kickers, apparently, but according to riding association president Bill Fehr, only one hopeful stepped forward with paperwork in hand.
That was Rob Flack of Dorchester. And so, in the June provincial vote, Flack will be the PC candidate representing Elgin-Middlesex-London.
We caught up with him yesterday morning (Jan. 21) on his way to work and delayed his arrival by a few minutes.
However when you are president and CEO of a large operation like Masterfeeds, who is going to complain.
Their mission statement is as follows, “As a leader in the Canadian animal nutrition industry, Masterfeeds will serve livestock and poultry producers with research-based and proven animal feeding solutions – supported by skilled employees, dealers and sales staff who are accountable to the ongoing success of our customers and stakeholders.”
The short version is catchy, “People advancing animal nutrition.”
Share this:
A fully functional downtown CCTV system helps bring public safety further into focus
The evolution began in May of last year when city council endorsed Phase 1 of a project to install eight CCTV cameras along a two-kilometre stretch of Talbot Street, from CASO Crossing to St. George Street.
The locations were selected based on 2018/19 crime-mapping data and motor vehicle collision reporting information.
But, it is not meant to be a red-light camera system to document vehicles running traffic signals.
The CCTV program was pitched to council as “a proactive, local solution modelled on successful networks in other municipalities to enhance community well-being and assist the St. Thomas Police Service with solving crime.”
A report from the service concluded,” a safe, secure and vibrant downtown will provide a canvas for economic development.”
Last month, the entire system was brought on stream and is now in full operation, according to Insp. Steve Bogart, who oversees the CCTV operation.
Share this:
St. Thomas Transit strategic plan: ‘Any change is better than what we have now’
The city’s much-maligned transit system may very well become a greatly relied upon people mover if council endorses the recommendations of the soon-to-be-released Strategic Transit Plan.
The proposed changes would involve route and schedule adjustments, the introduction of demand-responsive transit (DRT), the possibility of larger buses and electric bus technology and a pilot project to explore regional bus service.
At Monday’s (Nov. 18) reference committee meeting, Brian Putre of Stantec Consulting and city engineer Justin Lawrence presented an overview of recommendations to members of city council.
The plan, which is 95 per cent complete, drew favourable comments from all of council, including the stark observation from Coun. Joan Rymal that “any change is better than what we have now.”
Share this:
Looking for a place to park a share of $200 million
Gary Goodyear, the minister of state for the federal economic development agency for southern Ontario, came to town Thursday dangling a $200 million carrot while serving up a bitter dose of reality.
“The industrial revolution’s over,” warned Goodyear. “This is the technology revolution. Manufacturing has to accept the fact that for them to remain competitive they have to use the lightest product.
“They have to use the fastest assembly line, they have to use the latest inventory software and all of these new technologies – many of which are developed here in Ontario – have to be purchased.”
Not only do businesses have to recalibrate, municipalities and their economic development corporations need to focus on the new reality.
Continue reading
Share this:
‘Mayor’s negativity . . . unwarranted,’ says TV show’s fan
   As we wrote in this corner last week, City Scope applauds the decision made to take a flyer on providing the backdrop for the popular reality series, Million Dollar Neighbourhood, because of the negative light in which it might cast St. Thomas.
    Reader Bill Sandison takes exception and passed along the following argument.
    ” So much for this mayor and meaningful community engagement; a missed opportunity to build community spirit over a 10-week stretch as 100 families would help each other try to achieve a community savings of $1,000,000; equating to $1,000 a week for each family,” Sandison writes.
    “Mayor Heather Jackson reportedly reached consensus with the Economic Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce to say no.”
    He continues, they “should replay the video “St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada – Faster. Stronger. Better.” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qQl4Nvrmmc) It portrays St. Thomas in a far more progressive light, one that appears to have been forgotten. While the video is industrial focused, it is about a community working together, which is exactly the premise behind Million Dollar Neighbourhood, except it involves ordinary families working together to improve their individual circumstances and the community as a whole.
    “Each week the families select one household to receive $10,000 for leadership towards achieving their goal. Has Mayor Heather Jackson watched any of the 10 episodes; talked to any of the 100 families participating in saving Aldergrove $1,000,000; talked to Aldergrove resident Irene Setka who won the $100,000; talked to Mayor Jack Froese or any of the township councillors before trashing the opportunity as simply “more negativity about the city?”           Â
      Sandison points out, “Joanne Nicolato, a participant, said in her address to council, ‘I found myself bursting with community pride.’ Not quite the image being portrayed by our mayor.
    “While other Ontario communities are actively soliciting the Million Dollar Neighbourhood show, our mayor turns her nose up at the offer. Perhaps it is just indifference towards the residents of St. Thomas?
    “After all, what 10 families here could possibly use $10,000 and potentially $100,000? While I can appreciate Jackson’s fear of criticism, it has nothing to do with the families living in St. Thomas.”
    Sandison concludes, “The mayor’s negativity is defensive and unwarranted, and has deprived local families of hard cash and an opportunity to showcase community pride.”
    As always, this corner encourages input from readers.
LET’S GET THIS STRAIGHT . . .
    Ascent, formerly St. Thomas Holdings Inc., has an off year and yet board chairman, Ald. Tom Johnston, feels the directors should receive a hike in compensation.
    Johnston would not reveal specifics of the increase, but board members currently receive about $8,500 for attending 10 or so meetings a year.
    Handsome remuneration for the work involved.
    Thankfully, city council was united in nixing this proposal to further stock the trough.
    So, who sits on the Ascent board of directors?
    In addition to Johnston and Mayor Heather Jackson, neither of who are compensated, the members include former St. Thomas mayor Peter Ostojic, vice-chairman Jim Herbert, Brian Dempsey and local businessman Joseph Starcevic.
    “I can’t support this recommendation,” asserted Ald. Gord Campbell. “St. Thomas Holdings had a difficult year, lost some money.
    It was Campbell who called for the recorded vote,
    Is that why council was unanimous in opposition? Shame by association?
GUESS NO LONGER
    After months of speculation, the where-will-Steve-Peters-surface-again question was answered this week with an announcement from the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors (AOFP) that their new executive director is none other than the former mayor of St. Thomas.
    AOFP is a member-driven organization representing over 650 food and beverage processing companies in Ontario and employing more than 110,000 people.
    Can’t think of a more qualified and enthusiastic ag business promoter than Steve. He served as this province’s minister of agriculture from 2003-2005, then moved on to minister of labour from 2005-2007.
    Of course, long-time residents of St. Thomas will remember Steve really got a hands-on education in the food business stocking grocery store shelves in the previous century.
    Reader David Delgado gives two thumbs up to the announcement.   Â
    “Good for Stevie boy,” he notes on the T-J website. The AOFP got a good man to work with them. Too bad we can’t convince him to come back as mayor!”
    It’s a safe bet the AOFP is not familiar to many in the province. It will be interesting, therefore, to follow Steve’s impact on the alliance, both in profile and increased political clout.
THIS WILL BE A PARTY
    After a two-year hiatus, Canada Day celebrations will return to Pinafore Park, a venue that was vacated due to risks associated with the grand finale fireworks display and the proximity to the Lake Margaret development.
    It’s a wise decision by the city, albeit unfortunate the compromise solution could not have been reached much sooner so as not to break the long tradition of celebrating Canada’s birthday in the family-friendly confines of Pinafore Park.
    The Douglas J. Tarry Sports Complex is a wonderful site for ball tournaments and the like, but as a gathering spot for the community to come together for a day-long party, it just doesn’t cut it.
    Based on early comments on the T-J website, the prospect of renewing the association with Pinafore Park on July 1 is embraced by readers.
    “One of the best decisions made so far this year,” writes ‘dewing.’ “Back to the Park! That should be the most repeated saying of the city. Congratulations on bringing ‘family’ back to July 1.” Â
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
    “I am looking forward to the opportunity to be a champion for a manufacturing sector that is so vital to Ontario’s economy.”
    Former Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Steve Peters on his appointment this week as executive director of the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors.
    City Scope appears every Saturday in the Times-Journal. Questions or comments can be emailed to ian.mccallum@sunmedia.ca.
Share this:
Alliance of Ontario Food Processors appoint Steve Peters as Executive Director
Cambridge, ON — The board of directors of the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors (AOFP) has appointed Steve Peters as Executive Director, effective May 2, 2012
Peters is a former MPP for the riding of Elgin-Middlesex-London from 1999-2011. He was Minister of Agriculture from 2003-2005, and Minister of Labour from 2005-2007. Most recently, Peters served as Speaker of the House until his retirement from politics in 2011. Prior to his election to provincial government, Peters served as mayor of St. Thomas.
“We are delighted that Steve has joined our team,” says Craig Richardson, chair of the AOFP board of directors. “We believe that his experience in and long-standing commitment to the agri-food industry in Ontario will help us to achieve our goal of raising the profile and strengthening the Ontario food and beverage processing industry.”
“I am passionate about this industry,” says Peters. “I have long recognized its importance as an economic driver in Ontario, and see great potential for growth and job creation. I am looking forward to the opportunity to be a champion for a manufacturing sector that is so vital to Ontario’s economy.”
AOFP is a member-driven organization representing over 650 food and beverage processing companies in Ontario, including the members of the Association of Ontario Chicken Processors, the Baking Association of Canada, the Dairy Council of Ontario, the Ontario Independent Meat Processors, the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Processors Association, and the Wine Council of Ontario. It employs more than 110 000 Ontarians, making it the largest employment sector in the province. In addition, the industry purchases over 70 percent of Ontario’s agricultural production making it the farm community’s most strategic partner.
Among AOFP’s priorities for strengthening the industry is a partnership with Conestoga College in Cambridge, Ontario to develop the Institute of Food Processing Technology, a training facility to address the significant shortage of skilled labour in the industry.
Share this:
National food strategy rooted in Elgin
Posted by Ian:
With no clearly defined picture as to what Canada’s agri-industry should look like in the coming decades, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture is taking a lead role in devising a national food strategy. OFA vice-president Mark Wales, who farms near Copenhagen in east Elgin, is a vocal advocate for a clear, defining agricultural template that can be adopted on a national scale.
City Scope conducted a lengthy interview with Mark on March 9 of this year. What follows is the entire unedited version of the phone interview with Mark in Toronto that delved into a national food strategy, a similar undertaking in the U.K., GM foods and other agri-industry topics on the radar.
City Scope: Mark, define for us what has led up to the push for a national food policy.
Mark Wales: There never has been any clear defining, overarching national or even provincial food strategy in this country. Some municipalities, like Vancouver, have a food strategy and I think Manitoba has a bit of one, but those are mainly focused around very local food. But there is nothing overall to say what should Canadian agriculture look like, whom should we be trying to feed, what should we be trying to produce and who should be doing it and under what standards and so on.
There is a myriad of policies but none of them with any overarching vision or strategy. So, that’s what we’re working on here, both in Ontario at the OFA level, and at the national level through the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
Continue reading
Ian's City Scope 