Clinton News Record, 2016-12-14, Page 25arm labour shortage blea
John Miner rural areas not easily accessed
Postmedia Network
With a growing gap between
the number of people willing to
work on the farm and the need
for workers, Canada's reliance
on foreign workers is set to soar,
a national think-tank predicts.
In a new report, the Confer-
ence Board of Canada said
there already is a gap of 59,200
workers, double what it was a
decade ago.
That shortage is expected to
double again during the next 10
years with a gap of 113,800 posi-
tions by 2025.
Report co-author Michael
Burt, director of industrial eco-
nomic trends at the Conference
Board, said the two main areas
hit with shortages are
Southwestern Ontario and the
horticultural areas of British
Columbia
If it wasn't for temporaryfor-
eignworkers, itis likely a signifi-
cant portion of Canadian farm
land would go unplanted, the
report said.
"That would be a tragedy in a
world where about 800 million
people are food -insecure," the
Conference Board authors said.
The report released this
month found temporary for-
eign workers fill one in 10 jobs
in the sector, up from one in 20
a decade ago.
Burt said there are several
reasons for the agriculture sec-
tor labour shortages, even at a
time when people are
unemployed.
Often available work is in
by unemployed people in
urban centres.
In addition, much agricul-
tural work is seasonal with
demand forworkers soaring by
about 100,000 and then
plunging.
Then, there is animage prob-
lem, with many people believ-
ing
elieving farm work is too physical
with long hours.
Two solutions often pro-
posed — increasing the use of
technology to replace labour
and paying workers more —
won't solve the shortages, the
report said.
The number of Canadians
willing to work in the sector has
shrunk, even as wages have
risen.
At the same time, a dramatic
increase in the machinery
employed per worker has con-
tributed to agriculture experi-
encing the strongest labour
productivity gains of any major
sector during the past 20 years,
but there are limits to which
jobs can be mechanized.
Given the prospect for con-
tinuing shortages, the Confer-
ence Board suggests Canada re-
evaluate the effectiveness of
immigration programs so they
better meet the needs of
agriculture.
The board also suggests over-
hauling the temporary foreign
worker program, including eas-
ing the rules for entry visas and
allowing permanent residency
for migrant workers who are
filling a permanent labour mar-
ket need.
Goderich Council looking into building a helipad near local hospital
Darryl Coote
Postmedia Network
With an expected increase in
Huron County's sickest patients
being treated at Goderich's hos-
pital, doctors are lobbying
council to build a helipad near
the premises.
Before council Nov 21, local
doctor Paul Gill said that with-
out a helipad the Alexandra
Marine & General Hospital
wastes too much time and
resources on transporting
patients in need to the local air-
port to then be airlifted to larger
institutions.
The process of transferring a
patient to the airport can take in
excess of 40 minutes, he said,
adding it also monopolizes the
use of a municipal ambulance
and staff that could be better
employed to care for other
patients.
"In the middle of the night I
want my clerk not spending
time calling ambulances. I
want her calling physician
staff, getting them in, getting
nurses mobilized, caring for
that patient. So, often, we are
wasting resources not on
patient care," he said.
He said the hospital has
called on Ornge, Ontario's air
ambulance service, 34 times
so far this year as of the end of
October, but this number
should have been higher.
"We are under utilizing
Ornge currently and that's
more out of frustration," he
said.
And now with the facility
recently being named an
acute stroke centre, Gill said
he expects there will be an
increased need to transport
patients to and from the hos-
pital by air.
His solution is to build a
helipad in a field across Cam-
bria Road from the hospital,
right beside the Maitland Val-
ley Medical Centre.
He said the location is
"ideal" as the pad would be
adjacent to the emergency
room doors of the centre.
Omge has also landed there
in the past to aid with the 2011
tornado recovery efforts, he
said, and the town would only
need to build a flat asphalt or
concrete pad with lights.
"This could potentially be a
very, very straight forward
process," he said.
The only aspect he's not
sure of is if the plot of land is
currently earmarked for some
other use.
Annual maintenance of the
pad would be about $500, a
"trivial amount," he said. And
concerning construction, pre-
liminary estimation has it at
around $50,000, though he
said local companies have
unofficially offered in-kind
donations.
Council then voted for staff
to look into the proposal and
to come back with a report.
In time for the holidays
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Darryl Coote Postmedia Network
Winter has arrived in time for the area with the receiving its fair share of snow the weekend of Dec. 10-11. There was so much snow
that weekend that Environment Canada issued several snow squall and snowfall warnings. This image of the Huron County Court
House was taking before midnight Saturday, Dec. 10.
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 • News Record 25
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1
i
MOPP BRIEFS
SUSPENDED DRIVER DOUBLE
DOWNS & LOSES
(CENTRAL HURON & ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH
ON) –A 45 -year-old suspended driver from Waterloo decided t
take a chance he wouldn't get stopped by police – it turns out
he didn't get stopped just once last Thursday, but he got stoppe
twice, about 90 minutes apart.
At approximately 9:20 p.m. on November 30, 2016 officers i
a Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) patrol vehicl
spotted a Dodge Caravan travelling eastbound into Clinton o
Ontario Street in Clinton. Officers noted the validation sticke
on the attached rear licence plate to be expired. The driver wa
stopped and during the course of the investigation officers als
learned the driver was driving with a suspended driver's licence
The driver was subsequently charged and his vehicle was towe
away. This should have been the end of the story that night
this driver however he had other plans.
Shortly after 10:30 p.m. Huron OPP officers encountered th
same vehicle and driver now travelling westbound on Londes
boro Road. The defiant driver was charged again and his mato
vehicle was towed away for the second time that evening.
A 45 -year-old man from Waterloo has been charged with Driv
While Under Suspension (2 counts) and Drive Motor Vehicle – N
Validation on Plate. He will have to attend Provincial Offence
Act Court in Goderich on January 17, 2017 to answer to hi
charges.
TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO
ARREST OF WANTED MALE
(CENTRAL HURON, ON) - A 28 -year-old male from Huron Eas
has been taken into custody following a traffic stop that recent)
took place. At approximately 1:19 p.m. on December 3, 2016
a Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer observe
a Volkswagen travelling westbound into Clinton on Ontari
Street. The investigating officer noticed the passenger was fail
ing to wear his seat belt; as a result the vehicle was stopped o
Ontario Street near Williams Street South.
Upon stopping the vehicle the officer determined the passenge
was currently wanted for property related offences and failing t
attend court. As a result he was arrested on the strength of th
valid warrants and taken into custody. Upon searching the mal
he was found to be in possession of suspected Oxycodone an
Methamphetamine.
The man has been charged with Possession of a Schedule I Sub
stance (Methamphetamine), Possession of a Schedule I Sub
stance (Oxycodone) and Passenger Fail to Properly Wear Sea
Belt. He remains in custod1
y with an upcoming court date at th
Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.
call 1-866-734-9425
r visit www rn dicaler-t,ca
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