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Lakeshore Advance, 2013-12-25, Page 66 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, December 25, 2013 Economic partnership staying calm and carrying on Paul Morden OMI Agency Food plant shutdowns and cutbacks in southwestern Ontario are discouraging for Sarnia-Lambton officials work- ing to attract those types of jobs, but not enough that they're giving up. When the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership pro- vided a recent update of its strategic plan, it said food processing operations were among the sectors it's pursuing. That came as Heinz announced it was shutting down in Leamington and Kel- logg moved to close a London cereal plant. Just recently, Cargill said it's cutting jobs at a London plant. "When you lose these large companies like this, it's not a good sign," said partnership general manager George Malley. But, he added, Ontario has more than 3,000 food processing companies employ- ing a total of 125,000 workers. "'!here are changes happen- ing in the food processing industry, in terms of markets and tastes," Malley said. "So, 1 think there are still niche opportunities." And, the recent news hasn't been all bad, with California- based Misionero Vegetables announcing a new plant in Brantford, and pizza -making I)r. Oetker planning for a 130 - job operation lin London. Malley said there will still be new investments in the sector and Sarnia-Lambton wants to be on the radar when they happen. Earlier this year, Lambton County Warden Todd Case raised the issue of provincial support for a local food processing industry when he and other community leaders met with Premier Kathleen Wynne. Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley, chairperson of the economic partnership, said he expects its board will discuss the recent George Malley closings when it meets again. "It's a bit of a wake-up call to see how much effort do you want to expend in this direc- tion," he said. "We'll see where It goes, and see if we have some success The Municipality of Lanlbton Shores LIVING IN LAMBTON SHORES... A weekly Update on the Municipal Events In your Community Administration Department - 7883 Amtslscom Parkway, Forest, Ontario NON 1JO Tel 1.877.786.2335, 519.788.2335 Fax: 619-786-2135 Email adminbbationOlambtonshwes ca Visit ow Web Sits at www lambtonshores ca HOLIDAY SCHEDULE for GARBAGE & RECYCLING PICKUP 1 horn will bo no garbage 01 to<yl ling ptlk up on WI/dn0S110y, Docont)0r 15" a W,wlnesday, January 1st llowuver, o sl K,clal collodion for Most* normally rolio( .tad un Walnssday Dnrombor 75th wit take pare on Saturday. Da ertlttor JNth, 2013 101 thnsb M1%1M110(11 with lack ul, clays sMafulal for Dwcnnlbor ?4th and 1wro ober 31s1. plrnso onsurn Ile) your material is sot out by 7 a) a n1 as itte landfill silo Is (losing early 1 a further information Moose rolt6<1 eu1 Community Sorvlros 1)opl al 519x41.1400 Of 1• Rfi(t 043,1400 CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING Tho Municipally of l nndtlon Shunts will alto nytnt pruv,do Christmas bur do oft dopots from January Ind • 17111 Delwls art locator' al tit following Conunundy Sono( u, Valens 9575 Port Franks Road -Northville 8276 Townsend Lino, Forest low (tonal for furlhtr utlunndtwm pltasn rumor 1 Ihn Cununundy Swvn t ), ,,uUnunl nl 519x4:1 1400 or 1310E 94:1.141x) MUNICIPAL OFFICE HOLIDAY HOURS All Municipal Administration Offices will be closed for tho holiday season from Tuesday, Docembor 24, 2013 at noon and re-oponing Thursday, January 2, 2014 at 830 n m Lm Horton s and EastLlnk Invite you to enjoy some time with your f,undy and friends and skate fur leo at your local arena Check out the Municipal wobslto al www lamhtoi shores ca for Information on free skate times at tho Shores end Legacy Recreation Centres 411 04'&14°4 s 2013 - 2014 Holiday Skate Schedule The real glft Is the time you'll spend together! PI1:ASE NO11' bo hold January 1 hndforrl 1 he )014 Connell mooting srhnduln Is now postod on tin wobsIte Um firs) regular Conn(11 mooting will 16, 2014 al Ow I ngacy Centro In REQUEST for PROPOSAL Water and Wastewater Operations CONSULTING RFP The Municipality of Lambton Shores Is Inviting pre- qualified consultants to submit a proposal for assisting the Municipality with developing an RFP for third party contracted water and wastewater operations. This project entails all things necessary for assisting the Municipality with development, Issuance, and finalization of an RFP for the operations and maintenance of the Municipality's water and wastewater facilities. Interested contractors may obtain the tender documents online after December 15, 2013 at: www.lambtonshores.ca Tho closing data for submissions Is Tuesday, January 21, 2014 © 11:00 am, at. Municipality of Lamblan Shores Brent Kittmor, P.Eng., Director of Community Services FOREST OFFICE 7883 Amtelecom Parkway Forest, Ontario NON 1J0 Tel 519.243.1400 or Toll Free 1.877.943.1400 Fax 519.243.3500 For question regardkp the tender, please contact Jell Wolfe (Prolix( and Infrastructure Managerial 519-243-1400 Brant Rattner, Director of Community Service, 519-243-1400 CONTRACTORS TAK[: NOTE: \-. nl I.1nu,ty 1 .'111.1 Il r un, No111unl l tnlr Llkt••, ilii ' Inrl I?' 't• Xi' n11111.'1nU'. I i Ir L liar) t ,10..11(4) <d ,III ly{„ I1-4, 1'- , int Ion' t1 .w',)k 4,1)44.1 4,4, 444,44 wwN will (1,w on (rl stories. '!hat's how we'll measure it." At this point, Bradley said there remains a belief that attracting food processing plants will allow Sarnia - Lambton to gain more value from its strong farthing base. Currently, there are only a few small-scale food processing and pack- aging operations In Lambton, but no large em4)loyers. "1 don t know that it will ever be a major job -creator for us," Malta}, said. Traditionally, food processing oper- ations have located close to 'Toronto, "but for companies serving Ontario and 11.S. markets, there's no reason it can't work here," he said, paul.mordeit(u)sunmedia.ea Changes needed to allow small wine operations to sell their wares at market) OMI Agency Ontario is relaxing provincial liquor laws to allow homegrown wines made from grapes to he sold at farmers' markets. But two wineries and a meadery in Lambton County won't benefit from the province's loosening of alcohol restrictions. On Dec. 16, Ontario Premier Kath- leen Wynne, who is also agriculture minister, announced a $75 -million pro- gram to boost for Ontario's wine and grape industry, including allowing the sale of Ontario -produced and certified VQA wine at farmers' markets. Because the wine trust be VQA and because Lambton County is not in a VQA-designated area for grapes and because fruit wines are excluded, the announcement shuts out Munro I loney & Met 1ery in Alvinston, Alton Farms Estate Winery lin Plympton-Wyoming and 'Twin Pines Orchards and Cider louse in Medford. VQA wines are made only with Ontario grapes said Marc Alton, co- owner of Alton Farms Estate Winery, "We will not be able to sell at farmers' markets as our wine is not VQA-desig- nuted. The push should be to allow all 100% Ontario content wineries to sell at the markets, not just VQA." Alton explained that a VQA Ontario designation would restrict the wine varieties his winery could offer at mmar- kets. There are also additional testing requirements, registrations, audits and volume fees with a VQA designation, "The VQA program is a fairly small cost for larger wineries as it is spread over thousands of ruses of wine. But V(,)A fees are significant both In costs and manpower for small wineries pro- ducing 20-50 cases of each variety," said Alton. John Bryans, of Munro Iloney tar Meadery, said the provincial announcement "will not (do anything for us here ,,, It's just another form of discrimination in the wine industry." Mark Vansteenkiste, of 'Twin Pines Orchards and Cider !louse, said this could pave the way for some good news down the road for the small, family owned, farm -based winery. Vansteenkiste said currently there is no designation for a 100% Ontario hard cider, although Twin Pines is a member of the Ontario Craft Cider Association, which hopes to change this. Patrick (edge, president & CEO of the Winery & Grower Alliance of Ontario, said the WGAO has consist- ently advocated to government for the opportunity of Ontario wineries to sell through local farmers' markets. "'Ibis is permitted in all the wine pro (luting regions in the U.S. and is partic- ularly beneficial for smaller wineries that need additional market opportuni ties," he said. The agriculture ministry defines a "farmers' market" as One where the majority of the vendors are farmers sell Ing their own produce. Abigail Uancy, an official with the agriculture ministry, said she was unsure whether the provincial govern mens would stick to the definition I farmers' market in allowing the sn wine, or apply a more generic Inter intim) that would include other venues that have a variety of food and craft vendors, 'Ihe Ontario Viniculture Association had lobbied for years for a relaxation of the rules, arguing it is difficult for small wineries to get shelf space at the 1 (it(. The agriculture ministry estimates the wine and grape industry is worth about $3.3 billion to the provincial economy. Allan Schmidt, chairman oldie Wine Council of Ontario, said they've been asking for more retail access for two years, lakeshoreadvance.com )