Reducing red tape to building a new Highway 401 interchange was among the topics discussed during a mayoral candidates forum held Friday by the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce in Chatham.
When asked what action is required to reduce red tape to assist and encourage business expansion and attract new business, incumbent Randy Hope said, “We’re finding that our system that we’ve established . . . works with new investment and existing business.”
He said there is a technical advisory committee that looks at new projects and the municipality makes sure new investors or businesses have a single contact person they work with to handle issues.
“We are finding that we are having complications with the provincial government legislations that are out there,” Hope said.
But, the municipality is working with the province to mitigate those circumstances, he said.
“We need to be site certified, site ready on new business opportunities that come.”
Harold Atkinson pointed to Chatham-Kent’s population decline, stating there are more municipal employees now than when amalgamation began 20 years ago.
“We need less city employees and that is how we get rid of red tape,” he said.
Atkinson said his plan to reduce industrial taxes by 50 per cent would include approaching existing companies to see if companies in their supply chain want to locate here.
Alysson Storey said her job as mayor would be to listen to business owners to learn where the pressure points and red tape difficulties are being encountered.
She agrees provincial legislation has created many of the issues being faced.
“I have excellent relationships with our local . . . MPPs,” Storey said.
Noting she worked for the provincial government for several years, she said, “I have a network of colleagues that already exist to call in for assistance if we have with issues with the provincial legislation we find are bogging us down.”
Darrin Canniff said there is “a ton of red tape,” adding that speaking with businesses “they have big issues.
“That’s one of the key pieces of my platform is to eliminate that red tape,” he said.
“We can’t have businesses walking away from the municipality, saying, ‘Wow, that was a horrible experience . . . I wanted to expand my business.’”
Canniff said input from local business is needed to find out what the barriers are.
Noting it is not a “sexy thing,” but he said what needs to be done is to review the process and fix it.
Robert Salvatore Powers said red tape doesn’t really exist.
“When we’re talking about red tape, we’re talking about barriers,” he added. “The No. 1 barrier is information accessibility.”
Noting he has three degrees, Powers said he has trouble finding information on the municipality’s website.
“If businesses are looking to open up here in Chatham-Kent, and they can’t find what they’re looking for, they’re not going to call us, they’re going to look elsewhere.”
Mayoral candidate Robert Traylor was invited but did not take part.
An issue discussed a various times over the years was raised during the forum – constructing a new Highway 401 interchange at Charing Cross Road.
“We’re dealing with a legacy issue that would have changed Chatham-Kent completely if we had done this 50-60 years ago,” Canniff said.
“I would certainly like to see it,” he said, adding if the province steps up with funding he would fully support it.
But, when looking at the $30-plus million cost, which the province is not going to contribute to, Canniff said, “We really have to put it on a priority list and say, ‘What else are we going to forego to do this?’”
“I don’t believe that’s a priority,” Storey said, adding she’s heard of many other infrastructure projects that are needed while on the campaign trail.
“We just don’t have the money,” she said, adding the ministry has made it “very clear they will not be giving us a dime for that.”
Storey said there are bridges, culverts and drains closed across Chatham-Kent.
“We have to prioritize our infrastructure needs, that would be just about last on my list.”
Powers favours a Chatham bypass, noting more access to the Highway 401 is needed from the north and south.
“If you have a factory in Wallaceburg, we need to help you get your product to market all the way to Detroit, via the 401,” he said.
“I fully support the interchange,” Hope said, adding the real cost is about $15 million, citing the example of an interchange built in Port Hope.
Hope said he’s been talking to a number of commercial industries that have indicated they will come if an interchange is constructed at Charing Cross Road.
“They believe it is a great opportunity.”
Hope said the interchange will create a better gateway into the downtown core of Chatham and allow more people to explore what Chatham-Kent is about.
Atkinson said most of the people in Charing Cross don’t want an interchange to be built.
“I don’t think we should really be investing it that right now, we need invest in things that are actually in Chatham-Kent as opposed to placing another access on the 401, we have lots of those.”
He said signage needs to be improved so when people drive along the 401 “they realize that Chatham-Kent actually exits.”
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