HomeMy WebLinkAboutADMIN-8-95 THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
REPORT
Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee File #
Date: Monday, March 20, 1995 Res. #LkLj- 44a2-`l
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Subject:
RURAL ONTARIO...ACTION, A RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CONFERENCE
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report ADMIN-8-95 be received for information.
1. BACKGROUND
On March 1 and 2, 1995 staff of the Economic Development Office attended "Rural
Ontario...Action, A Rural Economic Development Conference" held at the Holiday Inn
in Peterborough which was sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural
Affairs.
2. SUMMARY AND HIGHLIGHTS OF PROGRAM
The Honourable Elmer Buchanan, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
together with the Honourable Frances Lankin, Minister of Economic Development and
Trade welcomed approximately 150 participants to the conference.
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A panel, consisting of three businessmen, discussed the economic development
opportunities in rural Ontario communities.
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Report ADMIN-8-95 Page 2
Facilitated participant discussion was held following the panel discussion. The strengths
of many rural communities were characterized as "lifestyle" coupled with a loyal and
efficient workforce and low operating costs. Some of the weaknesses discussed
included the lack of efficiency in communications systems and parochial mind-set.
Several concurrent sessions were held with each participant attending two out of a
possible six sessions. The sessions attended by the staff of the economic development
office were "Financing Rural Business" and "Home Based Businesses". Information
pertaining to Community Loan Funds and Community Investment Share Corporations
was discussed. As well, a financing program called FarmPlus was outlined to staff.
During the Home Based Business session it was suggested that communities should
consider looking at their zoning by-laws, which may be outdated, for ways to encourage
home-based businesses to exist in compliance with the by-law.
David Foot, Professor of Economics, University of Toronto spoke about "the changing
nature of Ontario and global market places and their implications for rural development,
including leisure and recreations trends". Most of this speaker's topic pertained to
demographics which showed the increase in age of the majority of the population who
are the "babyboomers". This generation is now between 35 - 55 years old and it was
suggested that businesses and communities gear their products/services to this age
group.
3. BENEFITS TO THE MUNICIPALITY
Tom Chudleigh, President, Chudleigh Apple Farm Ltd., Milton, Ontario, told the group
how his community solicited the Ministry of Transportation to erect signs pointing
tourists to local orchards. These signs could also be beneficial to our community
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considering the large number of orchards and roadside fruit & vegetable stands which
presently exist.
Several contacts were made including two which were passed on to assist recent clients
of the economic development office.
Also, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs provided participants with an
information diskette of programs and services. The economic development office will
use the ideas and information presented at this conference to assist those clients
operating in the agricultural sector.
4. RECOMMENDATIONS
That Report ADMIN-8-95 be received for information.
Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by,
Todd Letts, M.B.A. W.H. Stockwell
Economic Development Officer Chief Administrative Officer
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