Hub Staff

The economic recovery plan remained at the forefront of the Saugeen Shores Committee of Whole Zoom meeting held on Monday, May 11. Director of Strategic Initiatives Jessica Linthorne relayed staff’s recommendation that an outside consulting firm be hired in the amount of $26,000 funded from the NWMO (Nuclear Waste Management Organization) reserve to assist in the development of the recovery plan. In this scaled back version of their original plan that had quoted $40,000, Linthorne stressed that they maintain a firm belief that an evidence based approach will result in the lowest risk to the community.

Vice Deputy Mayor Don Matheson acknowledged that the uncertainty in the duration of ordered closures to local businesses makes it challenging to develop an accurate plan for recovery. Matheson posed the question that he feels the recommendation comes down to whether or not a consultant is needed.

If the current economic development team could focus solely on this project, stated Matheson, this task could be achievable in-house but he argued that with only one staff member dedicated to the economic development department and actively responding to local businesses the request is unattainable. Matheson further argued that the data collected by the County is “not specific enough” for Saugeen Shores.

Matheson insisted that the rainy day for which they were saving the NWMO reserve was now upon them. “These extreme times fit right into the parameters of this reserve,” said Matheson.

“I believe that if our Director of Strategic Initiatives says that the best way for us to proceed is to hire a consultant who will assist, who will do the intangible and data collection that is beyond our staff and the abilities and time constraints of the task force, then we must support her decision,” concluded Matheson.

Councillor Cheryl Grace echoed the Deputy Mayor’s concern that we are amidst uncertain times where no one can predict the outcome. “The best any government and community can do is to prepare for the worst case scenario,” said Grace. “I believe we have enviable resources in our community and our region to help us act and prepare to the best of our ability."

Grace recalled the final approval given earlier this year to the Municipal Innovation Council (MIC). The newly instated Laboratory Director and MIC team are privy to the experts and resources available at the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII) located in Saugeen Shores. Contrary to Matheson’s desire for requiring community specific data, Grace said, "In the case of COVID-19, we have far more similarities" and insisted the collaboration between the six participating municipalities of the MIC and their available resources will be effective in finding efficiencies and to support staff and the economic recovery task force.

Furthermore, Grace recommended that the municipal funding provided by Saugeen Shores go directly to supporting local businesses in adapting to the new ways of operating under the restraints of COVID-19 and beyond. “As early as we apparently are in this crisis and with evidence about the pandemic and its effects constantly evolving, I fear that a report from a consultant will be obsolete before it’s published," she said.

As a business owner in Saugeen Shores, Councillor Matt Carr provided his perspective on the decision at hand and with regards to the MIC and the NII, Carr urged, “Everything else should be dropped, this is priority," adding "This is a county wide thing. This was the point of the NII and the MIC, was to bring communities together and how to support."

Carr stressed the importance of buying locally now and developing infrastructure to help local businesses in the future. “We just can’t lose sight of the short-term needs here,” he said. “By the time we hand this out to a consultant it is going to be too late. The businesses that we were trying to save are gone already. Myself, for that reason, I cannot support this,” concluded Carr.

Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau indicated that many local businesses are currently facing closure and agreed with the urgency to re-open the economy to aid those who could still survive. Charbonneau expressed his excitement to initiate the task force, but in his opinion, turning down the decision to hire a consultant now will only defer the need for external help in the near future.

The recommendation was defeated with a recorded vote of 5 to 4.