Moose Jaw Forum

October 11 2009
Lloyd Meier

One of the most important things we must do as a council is to spur economic development within our community. Over the past several years we as a community have lost several large employers. Everything from the Pork Plant to Moose Jaw Sash and Door has closed down. We lost Raider, General Cable is on lay offs. XL Beef is on a lock out.
If we don’t act now we will be in an economic crisis.

Tourism alone cannot support this community. We need to maintain a balance between our industrial base and tourism. With fewer and fewer high paying jobs we will need more and more low income housing.
This is not sustainable.

Through my dealings with one of the local Unions, I have entertained several people from around Canada that had absolutely no idea as to all we have to offer right here in Moose Jaw. I have had the opportunity to travel throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. Outside of Saskatchewan it seems that no one knows what we have to offer. I would like to change that.

I would propose that Council form a partnership with the Moose Jaw Tourism Board, The Moose Jaw Economic Development Board, REDA, and with input from the Chamber of Commerce we develop a strategic marketing plan to market Moose Jaw throughout Canada and into the United States. The goal of this marketing plan is to bring JOBS back to Moose Jaw.

Having said all that city council must also remember we are a team. A team elected by the citizens of Moose Jaw to work together in the best interests of all the citizens of Moose Jaw. One of those pressing issues is the safety and welfare of all our citizens. This covers everything from low income housing to the crumbling infrastructure.

We must press both the CHMC and the provincial government for a share in the 161 million dollar grant this province announced in May 2009 for social housing. This money was granted to the province for the development of low cost housing over the next 2 years and we have a need for it. The citizens of Moose Jaw have made this very clear during this election campaign.

We also have a problem with the crumbling infrastructure, everything from much needed road repair to city sidewalks that have become too dangerous to walk on. The northwest has a definite problem with water pressure.

I do not claim we have the current funding to address all the ills within the city of Moose Jaw, but with an increase in the diversity of the tax base we will more capable of looking after the needs of the citizens of Moose Jaw.


Having said that if elected I would want council to prepare a long term plan that included short term goals. This plan would include ways to diversify our local economy as well as address the issues brought forward during this election.

Lloyd Meier
1081-11th ave N.W Moose Jaw, Sk.S6H 4L6
hemi60@sasktel.net

Thanks for posting it Lloyd, it's convenient to be able to read it over.

One quick question from it though, are you aware that REDA no longer exists?

Yes I am aware REDA no longer exists, but I said it and this would not be accurate if I did not post what I said. REDA was in my mind an excellent tool and its a shame it no longer exists. This could possibly be replaced by a local development office in the future.

If you were going to set up a local regional economic development office, how would you deal with the contract that council signed last month with the south central enterprise region to pay SCER $50,000 a year to act as an economic development office (when SCER was designed to promote REGIONAL economic development, not local, and is now facing the ire of many elsewhere in the region for focussing on moose jaw). A contract that cannot be cancelled for at least 24 months, and will require 6 months notice to cancel after that?

I only stated that a development office could be set up in the future.That gives us only 18 months to investigate the feasibility of such an office, debate and agree to it if possible then give notice with a remaining 6 months to set up said office.This is only if council decides this is in the best interest of Moose Jaw.
As I am not a current member of council I do not have a copy of the contract with SCER so I cannot comment on that contract.

fair enough. I just wondered if you might forgo that deal. or try to set up an economic development office in city hall that could work with SCER. or if you were looking at a different approach. just trying to understand your platform.

thank you for the answers.

No I do not think that tourism can support this city as well. And being that we just got rid of the foundation on which it was built, it is less likely to be a major factor in the growth of this city.

The thing is, we need to give tax breaks and such to gain industry. This is not a time we can afford to do this with the current debt I think. Any value added ploy to bring industry would be a further cost to the city as well. So how are we to attract them? They will not come, simply because the industrial park is by a highway. And there is the factor of upgrading suage and water and power to meat the demands of a lot of industry coming into the city - another large cost.

I agree we need to bring them in, but how are we to do this with this debt load?