Places to Grow in the South West

Extending the 403 west from Woodstock makes St Marys and Strathroy magnets for new industries; it also puts Exeter, Mitchell, St Marys and Stratford in closer proximity to a NAFTA highway. The Smart Growth panel of 2003 ignored this suggestion and recommended more reliance on rail and improvements to the 401 between London and Windsor. To spur economic development, better connections were advocated for the Southern Georgian Bay area.
A new regime at Queens Park shelved smart growth and passed the "Places to Grow Act." Targeted is the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) stretching outward from the GTA to encompass Barrie, Guelph, Fort Erie, Hamilton, K-W, Orangeville and Peterborough. The desperate operative words are: densification and transit. To appreciate the sheer size of the new growth area beyond the green belt, visit the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal site.
Other places to grow haven't been identified. If pressure is to be taken off the GGH, then the old Western Smart Growth area -call it the 519 Progress Zone- (see SWEA maps and statistics) stretching from Georgian Bay down to Lake Erie over to Lake Huron is key. The action words here should be economic integration and northern freeway planning.
The latter comprises two elements: a westward extension of the 403 and a new freeway heading north of the proposed 402/403 intersection to track by Wingham, Walkerton and Flesherton and thence across to the 400 near Barrie. This trade corridor brings Goderich, Collingwood, Hanover, Kincardine and Owen Sound plus the broad Saugeen district into the NAFTA sphere. With a wide corridor secured, construction can be staged over decades as an initial 2-laner and then built out to full freeway standard as mid-century needs dictate.
The architects of the Greater Golden Horseshoe reacted to a projected 25-year 3.7 million population growth with a Transportation Strategy. While not having the immediate traffic volumes of the Toronto-centric area, a Strathroy/Hanover to Barrie 400-series corridor deserves attention. Without good GTA and NAFTA connections, farmers and townspeople in Bruce, Grey, Huron and Perth counties face economic crisis -while our provincial taxes are used to renew and expand infrastructure across the outer regions of the GGH.

Agriculture is the predominant land use in the south west ...and is a major economic sector, albeit, an ailing one. Ignoring transportation deficiencies and concentrating on traditional agri-businesses is the strategy recommended by a consultant retained by Grey and Bruce counties. Such strategy does not stem the flow of young people taking two-lane highways south to find jobs along the four-laners. Restricted to small local markets and lack of off-farm jobs, farmers go bankrupt and places to grow crops lie fallow. Entrepreneurs locate elsewhere, leaving subsistance farming and tourism to sustain an economically-crippling geriatric demographic
The future of heretofore isolated towns need not be limited by their agricultural roots, low commodity prices ...and ghost rail lines. Local apathy combined with Provincial neglect just leads to depleted population -and re-generation of the Queen's Bush.

Fresh-thinking about highway planning and industry growth north of the 401's western corridor is overdue. First, comes evidence of a willingness of a broad coalition of northern 519 Zone interests to get their act together. Farmer groups, business associations and citizen's groups need to work with mayors and wardens in identifying ideas, projects and resources that will help build their economies from within. Lobbying for the freeway initiative is critical.
Cities straddling the western 401 and 402 corridors cannot be expected to take the lead in such northern strategy. They need to be reminded, however, that they prosper if the broader region prospers. Put another way: Only new trade links can prompt market forces to disperse new industry to places where jobs are really needed .. and in doing so, create the critical population mass to support expansion of world-class educational, medical and research institutions (and yes, arts & culture) in the freeway cities. With many of London's ward councillors having an aversion to both densification and peripheral development, perhaps a few members will entertain the regional growth alternative.
Region-wide investments in industry will keep pace with improving travel and freight efficiencies. Indeed, high-skilled jobs and increased municipal tax bases will not magically appear in advance of connections to wider markets. The latter involves making a persistent case for strategic investments in northern highways. Strategically, transportation planning should always reflect the needs of the regional economy. Participation in the South West Economic Assembly can help set the stage for enabling northern freeways to attract industry and jobs. And, since highways are an integral part of economic strategy, SWEA can best encourage northern participation by championing a 519 Transportation Board. To compete with the economic might of the GGH, forward-looking business, labour and civic leaders in the south-west have to focus on connections rather than separations as the best road to regional cohesion ...and lasting economic traction.

Thus, the seed for freeway expansion has been sown. It has recently been spread via a Wikipedia item on the 403 extension. Unless the impacted municipalities fertilize these ideas, there is little likelihood, however, that they will ever be germinated by Queens Park.
Globe & Mail article on Oct 10, 06 lauds small-towns (mainly east of Highway 10) in their success in attracting Japan-based auto parts plants. Proximity to to Alliston Honda, non-union workforce and great highways are credited. Here's an August 07 article on rural plant locations preferred by Asian parts suppliers.

A Sun Media March 15th article on dismal census results in the south-west foretells a stagnant economy, declining school enrollment and a geratric populace. And while municipalities struggle to present a viable regional economic front, academics do what they do best, form a group (ONRIS) to study the best practices in inter-regional economic innovation.
In September 2008 Sarnia will host yet another gathering of academics, consultants and politicians talking up regional economic development.
PS
Here is a short post on Sarnia sequel:
http://londont.blogspot.com/2008/10/swea-hears-for-investment-in.html

Wine, Morels and Sex ~{;~J

A short story published in Mosaic Magazine -April 2003

Two couples who met in the maternity ward socialized for the quarter century it took to bring their babes from nursing through schooling to graduation. To celebrate, they decide to hold a formal DINK (double income no kids) dinner on Mother's Day.
The wives would pool their culinary skills. Shamus' wife, a Parisian, was a gourmet cook. Dylan's wife, a teacher , would host the event at their summer home at Traverston --a ghost town on the Rocky Saugeen River.
Although the men are of Irish and Scottish descent, they are not descendants of Glenelg Township's pioneers. Indeed, old family names associated with the operation of the grist and sawmills disappeared generations ago. New migrants from the city, craving rustic settings, bought the houses of the miller and smithy as well as riverfront farms.
Since Dylan's and Shamus' ancestral lands are noted for short cookbooks the husbands are not allowed in the kitchen. Being Canadian, they like their suds, and yet pretend to be wine experts; grape bores, say the wives.
This occasion requires something unusual. While the ladies plan courses, their gentlemen retire to the patio for a few beers ...and decide to play real dinks.
"Lets get Irish or Welsh vintages," suggests Shamus.
"They're hard to find," responds Dylan. "Domestic wines around $12 will do. Now, while we are in the spirit let's script our parts." The actors settle on customary praise of the first bottle, with subsequent assessments being increasingly randy. They no longer have to restrain their language because for the first time, teenagers will not be present.
The next week, Dylan, with unusual theatrics, carries three bottles to the cellar. Later his wife checks the selection and plans a few surprises of her own, one of which is to substitute pig's feet and knuckles for spareribs.
Meanwhile, Shamus rolls his vintage 1970 convertible out of the garage in preparation for the first spring trip. The weather forecast is sunny, so food boxes and precious bottles are carefully stowed in the trunk. The two couples pile in and cruise north in a festive mood.
On Mother's day, dinner gets underway with champagne toasts to their mothers -and to the long-awaited empty nest status. Then comes the predictable ritual with the first bottle of wine; extolling the area, the winery, and the year.
Throughout the first two courses there are effusive compliments about the cuisine, especially, the pork dish and woodsy morel sauce. Dylan comments, "Someone once said, 'Marrying these plump fungi with a youthful wine substitutes for sex.'"
His wife retorts, "Whoever said that must have been a monk. Lucky for us these wines aren't that great."
"Maybe so," adds Shamus, "but my favourite American author, Ambrose Bierce, got it right when he said, 'Wine, Madam, is God's next best gift to man.'"
His lady parries with, "When man marries, surely mother-in law replaces wine as the second best gift."
"Touche," concedes Shamus, "but on this feast day, let's not go there."
"And, don't forget the words of the porter in Macbeth, "she adds, "'Drink provokes the desire, but it takes away from the performance.'"
Having lost the verbal duel, the dudes eagerly test the second bottle. "Ah! This one is absolutely ravishing, if not downright seductive," chortles Dylan.
His friend concurs, "Ah yes, lithe, nimble and nubile with a titillating fragrance."
These observations bring a rose blush to the cheeks of the petite Parisienne. The hostess merely smiles and brings on the faux truffle ravioli.
Upon opening the next flask, Shamus pronounces, "Matronly and somewhat past its prime."
"Wait a moment, interjects Dylan. "Let me have a sip." After a taste, he purrs, "Humm, full-bodied, yet there's still residual suppleness and it's slightly nutty. Let the ladies decide."
Feigning annoyance, the hostess snaps, "Let's just set it aside, and have this sweet wine with dessert."
Slamming the cork in the suspect bottle, Shamus mutters, "Smells like wet dog to me." He brightens up when he sees passion fruit pudding being served. Passing the suggested sweet wine to his collaborator, he makes the aside, "More fun to come."
Without noticing sediment in the slim bottle, the host pulls the loose stopper, and starts to say, "A luscious character, and..." The stench wafting across the table is not ice wine or anything a delicate nose would care to identify. He stammers, "and fruit flies ..er rather, fruit lies at its core."
Shamus cuts him short, "You mean rotten to the core," and rushes to open the patio door. Pandemonium reigns. Dylan trips as he dashes down the hall to flush the contents.
The wives grab sweaters and bolt outdoors. "In all my years I've never seen them act like this," says one.
A chill sets in as shadows of fragrant cedars lengthen across the gravel road. Realizing their skit is totally tasteless, the gonzos are about to apologize when laughter echoes from the pathway down the limestone gorge.
"My scheming wife doctored that bottle", growls Dylan. "What was that garbage anyway? Wild leek and rotten egg?"
"Yep," says his now contrite pal. "Yolks on us. Let's take our just desserts, wash the dishes and go polish the old Buick. "
jd sweeney
PS Should you have contacts in the Markdale/Traverston area, be sure to relay this link to them.