Staff
The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Northwestern Ontario Economic Development Planning requested feedback from municipal leaders on its pilot project after providing an update during the Rainy River District Municipal Association annual meeting last month.
Project manager Pat Forrest, on behalf of JTF chair Iain Angus, explained the task force’s mandate is to play a lead role in developing a proposed model and implementation plan for regional economic planning in Northwestern Ontario.
The priorities are local decision-making, collaborative governance, participation by all leader groups in the region, including aboriginal organizations, and authority to give to decision makers the tools to implement and influence decisions regarding economic policy and strategy.
The JTF is proposing a regional economic development organization that will co-ordinate the development of a regional economic development strategy and implement regional economic development projects and programs.
In Phase 1, they are looking to establish and fund the Regional Economic Development Area (REDA), prepare a five-year strategic plan, and identify barriers to economic development.
Forrest said an example of a project is the Rainy River Regional Abattoir, which opened in Emo two years ago, while potential projects include a regional broadband plan, a community attractions plan, and an in-sourcing plan.
She presented four different governance models for the REDA board, with municipal leaders asked to select their preferred model in a survey handed out afterwards.
They also were asked to offer feedback regarding:
•how strongly they agree with the concept of regional economic development planning as presented;
•to what extent they agree with the proposal that the pilot area be all of Northwestern Ontario, with groupings or clusters formed as required; and
•whether they agree with the relationship and structure of the REDA as presented.
The survey also asked to what extent they agree with the proposed implementation goals and plan of the REDA, and were invited to offer additional comments or advice.
Forrest stressed this project will offer many benefits across the region.
“The REDA organization must provide a new vision and level of influence for the future that is consistent with the desires and aspirations of its constituents,” she said.
A revised final draft of the report will be presented to the JTF at the end of the month, then submitted to the provincial government in March.
A full draft of the report is available at www.nwoeconomiczone.ca
