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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-08-19, Page 22 News Record • Wednesday, August 19, 2015 Local providers offer alternative to SWIFT Dave Flaherty Postmedia Network Local Internet providers would like the county to con- sider an alternative way to bring more broadband Inter- net to rural customers. At the August 12 meeting, Independent Telecommuni- cations Providers Associa- tion (ITPA) executive direc- tor Jonathan Holmes told county councillors their pro- posal would be an efficient alternative to the SWIFT pro- ject proposed by the Western Ontario Wardens Caucus (WOWC). The SWIFT project could see the development of a high-speed fibre optic regional network. The WOWC represents the counties of Huron, Perth, Bruce, Grey, Dufferin, Sim- coe, Wellington, Brant, Oxford, Middlesex, Lamb - ton, Essex, Chatham -Kent, Elgin and Norfolk as well as the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Holmes said the SWIFT project is focusing on build- ing a "transport network" between larger cities, how- ever, he argued such a net- work is already in place. Holmes said under its plan, the ITPA would focus on bringing broadband Internet to so-called "last mile" customers, those in more rural areas. "We've trying to get SWIFT to change their minds and see it from the perspective of local Internet providers," Holmes said. He urged council that investing into SWIFT would be spending money on resources that are already established. Holmes added that there is no guarantee that the "last mile" infrastructure will be a top priority for SWIFT. He said the southwestern Ontario proposal is similar to two other projects, the Eastern Ontario Regional Network and Alberta SuperNet. "The Alberta SuperNet didn't change connectivity for rural customers," Hol- mes said, adding they had heard that "nobody uses the Eastern Ontario Regional Network!' Holmes said another difference with their plan is the county would have more direct input. Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan said he agrees that under SWIFT "there is no guarantee where the money will go first:' He suggested that the county develop its own plan and go to the province. "I don't know if we would be able to put a business plan forth, but I'd like to think we can," MacLellan said. MacLellan said by devel- oping its own plan, the county would have more control over the develop- ment of broadband Internet in the region. Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh Deputy Reeve Roger Watt is the Huron County representative on the SWIFT project steering committee. He said he has been involved with of the type of plans MacLellan was sug- gesting, and it would likely be "just as expensive" as the work that has gone into the SWIFT project so far. He said he feels there have been mistakes made in regards to the SWIFT project, but there needs to be investment in both the "last mile" infrastructure and an overall network. CAO Brenda Orchard told council that local, independ- ent telecommunications providers in Huron County have more customers in comparison to other regions within the WOWC. Holmes said those involved with the SWIFT project have given "mis- leading" information about the amount of customers independent providers have, especially when faced with ITPA's increasing opposition. Central Huron Deputy Mayor Dave Jewitt said he would need to see a more detailed business plan before supporting the ITPA's proposal. Holmes said they are early in the process and more information is forthcoming to council. Representatives from SWIFT and the ITPA were scheduled to meet last Friday. Countywide economic development strategy moves ahead Laura Broadley Clinton News Record On August 10, staff, councillors and community members gathered in Clinton to learn about an economic development strategy for all of Huron County. This past Spring the county and its municipalities agreed to support a county- wide strategic planning pro- cess. The goal is to allow all municipal partners (nine municipalities and the county) to develop, imple- CLINTON & SEAFORTH 2u i a PHOI Rnnv 11. 1047p , $1 CAI wr 74 F I ii a.. News Record 53 ALBERT ST., CLINTON 519-482-3443 OR FAX: 519-482-7341 Do we have yor number? It's time again for the ever popular CLINTON & SEAFORTH PHONE BOOK IF YOU... • Moved • Changed Your Number • Have Your Number or Address Incorrectly Listed • Are New to Seaforth • Add Your Cell Phone ...PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE to arrange any changes necessary to ensure your Phone Book is up to date and correct! CAL on Advertising NE BOOK TODAY! ment and measure eco- nomic development. Vicki Lass, agriculture and rural economic develop- ment advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Agricul- ture, Food and Rural Affairs, said a collective impact approach was essential for a project of this nature. Collective impact allows for a common agenda, shared measurement, com- plementary activities, com- munication and the support of OMAFRA. The timeline for the pro- ject is tight with an end date of October 2015, which was one of the main concerns of attendees of the meeting on August 10. Helen Scutt, agriculture organization specialist with OMAFRA, said the tight timeline was to maintain momentum for the project. She said it is important with projects like these to have an end goal with room to pro- cess and make adjustments. Scutt has worked with non-profit groups to build an economic development strategy using the same framework, which has seen success. The goal of this project is to get municipalities work- ing together and to build a network. Scutt said that there are a lot of common threads within Huron County and it would make sense for the municipalities to work with one another. "The municipalities all have a piece in the puzzle," said Scutt. Building the capacity of the stakeholders within the community is important. Scutt said that bringing in an expensive consultant wouldn't give the commu- nity members the owner- ship, tools and teambuilding skills that they'll come away with by doing it this way. Stakeholders need to have a say in the economic development strategy and this process will allow those interested to have a say, said Scutt. A core team of five people will be chosen to participate in training sessions with OMAFRA. These people will be lead through training on how to facilitate workshops in a step by step process, which will make them feel more comfortable bringing it back to their community, said Scutt. Each municipality will put together a team of around 20 people to be the strategic planning committee, which will be made up of any stake- holders in the community. Addressing concerns, Lass said although some munici- palities are mainly agricul- ture, the economic develop- ment strategy still applies to them. She said it was possi- ble to incorporate that into the project. Lass also said that it was up to each team to make the project what it wants it to be when she was asked whether anything tangible would come out of the process. Huron County has set up a Facebook page called Shap- ing Huron County's Eco- nomic Development Plan, 2015-2020. The page will allow any- one interested in participat- ing in the conversation to stay informed. Clinton minor ball holds silent auction On August 30 the Clinton Minor Baseball Association are holding a silent auction to raise funds for its new ball lights. Bids will start at 12 p.m. and continue until to start of the eighth race at the Clinton Raceway. After a successful Air Can- ada auction where the asso- ciation raised $2,900, the executive is offering a trip for two to Ottawa. The details of the trip include: Two tickets Via Rail from Stratford to Ottawa Two night stay in Ottawa VIP tour of the Parliament buildings Two tickets to Question Period Lunch for two at the Par- liament restaurant Dinner for two at Hy's Steakhouse