HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-08-17, Page 7al -Star • Wednesda Au s ust 17 2011.
nal Star
SSUE X
ED WEEKLY --- EST. 1860
1 Star Publishing
uckins St.
h ON N7A 3X8
524-2614
. goderichsignalstar co m
S`UN MEDIA
IEA
ItlQ Manager
MILBURN
ECES
N
s & Stbscriplons
NSTON
is ng
Sales
dtowesnet.com
ebowesne'tcom
wesnetan
hadsebowesnet.com
.,
1
1 deadline Friday at 2 pm
ION RATES ADVANCE:
)y
$4? phis UST
$39 plus GST
321880 plus GST
$395 60 plus GST
S1 2' snctuding GST
Masi Agreement
3
UNDELt11ERA81. E CANADIAN ADDRESSES
N DEPARTMENT
s SI., Godarlch ON NIA 3x8
-delNal a *Ovary Gomm:
-2e14 EMAP: stindssebovosonstcom
Sona! Star shall not be liable ler faiMxe
for typographical errors in publication
extant of the cost of that portion of the ad
error Occurred The Wench Signal -Star
right lo reject or edit any advertisement.
Signal -Star is a proud member of the Ca-
. unity Newspapers Association (CCNA) and
muddy Newspapers Association (OCNiy.
%%led fie the financial support of the
• It t►( Canada through the Canadian
I mei ((3M') kx crier Ing activities.
;anad'ai.
Mond* d tM Camden Community
Nampaper Atsoclation and the Omen
criminality sdswapapen Araodstion
editorial
Is the future blowing
in the wind?
S.o
which way does the wind blow in the
Samsung green energy deal?
If you're Ontario Premier Dalton
McGuinty, the $7 billion, 25 -year deal is an
investment and a solid pian for the future. If
you're Tory leader 'nm Hudak, it's a sweetheart
deal with the Korean industrial giant and des-
perste ploy for votes.
The Liberals say it will swap funding for
much-needed green energy jobs. The Tories
say it's an ilI-conceived experiment in weird
science that will ultimately bite the taxpayer.
Two political views from opposite points on
the compass - perhaps it's worth a ground -
level look.
Tlllsonburg, a southern Ontario town that
knows all too well boom -and -bust economics,
is set for 300 of the 900 jobs the investment is
supposed to create. The hope is the Siemens
wind turbine plant, once a Magna auto parts
plant, will breathe much-needed life into a
sputtering local economy.
Tillsonburg thrived on two of southwestern
Ontario's economic staples - agriculture and
auto parts.
But the once prosperous tobacco industry
has virtually disappeared. Parts manufacturers
have closed in the wake of the car industry's flat
lining, including DDM Plastics, down the road
from the new turbine plant.
Last week, the town's mayor John Lessif said
he fears his community will be more of an elec-
tion issue than just another Ontario town vot-
ing in the October election. He wants Hudak to
give battered and, bruised Tillsonburg some
assurances he won't go through with his prom-
ise
rom -
is a toscrap the Samsung deal altogether.
Lessif's fears should signal how much the
wind has changed direction in small commu-
nities right across the province.
With the depopulation of rural areas and
manufacturing plants that were once the life-
blood pulling up stakes, it's apparent that a
much wider and more imaginative economic.
approach is necessary to save small town
Ontario.
Last week the final coffin nail was hammered
into Chatham's Navistar plant and Fram in
Stratford, two major employers in southwest -
em Ontario. Other proud communities in the
southwest have similar have similar tales to tell
about the de-industr ializadon of the province.
That's the ill wind that blows nobody any
good - and the biggest issue facing rural and
small town Ontario right now. It will be the
major election issue, especially in area ridings
where wind turbines dot the landscape and
more contracts are in the works.
And the politicians should be listening. Jane
Sims
11
letters to the editor
It's time we put away the gloves
Dear Editor.
Re: The Goderich business community
There's been a lot of chatter about the retail
business community in Goderich:in the last
few weeks.
The saga of muddled dissent around this
unruly trilateral continues.. It's been going on
for decades. -
The key elements in the dialogue seem to
perpetuate a kind of "Holy Trinity" as devel-
opment, retention, and promotion concerns
unfold. It's a veritable 'triangle' with each
side in constant opposition, it seems:
The Father: 'He' is the mighty and vocifer-
ous Town Council, along with all that gestates
at 57 West Street.
The Son: This entity is surely the testy BIA,
which includes the Shoppers' Square Associa-
don, and maybe the C. of C. (That's Chamber,
not Knights!)
The Holy Ghost(s): These are the periphery
businesses from the two said -to -be loathsome
'big box' mall areas, (and the strip mall -
where Ben Lobb resides •- on Victoria, I
guess.)
And two of the three key players seem
always to be at loggerheads:
The Father claims to support business eve-
rywhere, yet always seems charged to set out
barriers and roadblocks to guarantee that
downtown upstarts and new directions get a
good run for their money - busting through
endless bureaucracy.
The Son has periodic temper tantrums and
often insists that Dad just does not
understand.
And the Holy Ghost sits quietly by - and
makes money... (and Ben dutifully answers a
myriad of constituent enquiries)!
If good old Dick Lehnen were still around,
he'd surely get a great chuckle -. or might even
pound his shoe - about how the saga contin-
ues, even after the regrettable demise of his
highly visionary and enterprising Huron Tract
Group.... (forever chastised and demeaned by
the Father!)
Perhaps it is time, not only to take off the
gloves, but to put them right away?
There's a thriving town in Michigan that
provides an amazing example to lead our way.
South Haven has a business partnership that
has pulled the whole community together.
And the last time I was there, commerce eve-
• rywhere was just a-hummingt
The city fathers, the downtown business
groups, and the big box 'bad guys' on the
periphery all decided to pull together. They
built a .strong and cohesive team to strengthen
the whole community. They did it all
together!
To bad we couldn't emulate such collabo-
ration here. It would be to everyone's benefit,
serving a troubled downtown core - and
would acknowledge that new growth that will
surely continue on theperiphery. ft would
benefit the whole business community.
It would recognize the true, albeit unfortu-
nate, geographic reality for the way that North
American communities have always evolved
- and inevitably will continue to do so.
Sincerely,
Paul Carroll
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Signal Star welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include the writer's full name,
address, daytime phone number and signature (for verification). Anonymous letters will
not be published. We reserve the right to edit all editorial submissions including letters for
clarification, style and length. Letters must be signed and be in good taste and follow the
laws of libel and slander..