A Economic Development Plan is a blue print for future growth and prosperity for all residents, in any Community, District, Province or Country. Everyone would agree that we need to improve our economic development strategy, create a long term plan, stick to it and be prepared to pay for it.

I as Mayor, have been active in encouraging changes to stimulate growth and advocated the hiring of a Full-Time Economic Development officer. The current relationship with Rainy River Futures, although better than nothing, has not seen any encouraging results for the Town of Fort Frances, and must be changed.

Every major community in NWO has full time staff, who works with all of the business and tourism organizations in addition to working cooperatively with future development corporations. At a recent meeting of the Fort Frances Economic Development Advisory Committee it was agreed that we must put more emphasis on economic development and recommended council research the cost and benefits associated with the hiring of a full time Economic Development Officer.

Mr. Avis has advocated strengthening our ties with Rainy River Future Economic Development without any plan or strategy to explain how we might do this. Does he mean throw more money at them like we did before? I don’t know, but I do know this; even the current Economic Development Officer , agreed at a recent town committee meeting he could not effectively represent all the communities in the Rainy River District without help. His words and support of the motion to hire a full time Officer for Fort Frances, put into question Mr. Avis’ answer to improving Economic Development.