We will be casting ballots in the next month to elect a new mayor and council. When you look at the candidate’s literature, it does not appear much different than what was presented to the public four years ago. Much has changed since the ending of COVID pandemic. Through the four years, council has faced issues that did not appear on the horizon four years ago.
Today, there are minor irritants; Sunny Cove camp, the roundabout and the Hallett. Council has not been able to make a final decision and are revisiting those issues again. The courts settled the question of ownership of the Point Park and today it is operated and maintained by Agency 1 First Nation bands. The park remains within the boundaries of Fort Frances and continues to be available for use by the citizens of Fort Frances and surrounding communities.
Three industries continue to be fundamental to the economy of Fort Frances. Forestry and sawmills continue to create jobs. Tile drainage has expanded the economy with grain growing and cattle raising employing more citizens than ever. From 1930 onward the town promoted itself as the gateway to the north, attracting fisher persons and hunters to the district and beyond.
Much of the infrastructure of Fort Frances now exists beyond its life expectancy. Councils over the past forty years have been replacing that infrastructure block by block and every year it become more expensive. Councils now and in the future will have to address this less than popular item in their budget. No one is excited about water or sewer until their taps run dry or they can’t flush their toilets. Similarly, most sidewalks are over 70 years old, cracking, weeds growing through them and breaking up. They are part of the infrastructure and a hazard.
Fort Frances will have a great deal of new power flowing through its system. That solar power is an asset that this council and future councils can use to attract new business to the district. The Boundary Waters Forest area has a huge surplus of fibre that should be marketed. Perhaps that fibre can be turned into biofuel.
One of the issues facing every employer in the district is attracting new employees and finding housing for those new employees. What can council do to make immigrants feel more welcomed into the community and attract more to our community? Council has a great deal of vacant land. Is there an opportunity to attract outside developers to build multi-unit apartments and row housing in our community to house all the new workers?
These ideas are part of economic development and that should be a priority of every councillor, as well as maintaining the infrastructure and attractiveness of the community. Ask the candidates what their priorities are and where they see opportunities to grow the community.
