A Tale of Two Cities

Chatham, Ontario

A new call centre is opening in Chatham, bringing some 300 jobs to the city. Minacs Worldwide says it will open a 33-hundred-square-metre facility early next year.

Windsor, Ontario

Windsorites are fearful of a bleak economic future as the effect of having 1,100 fewer Ford jobs trickles through the local economy.

We in Windsor really shouldn't worry so much. After all, didn't we have recently the major announcement of the Keg opening up a new restaurant downtown! All those high paying jobs to help revitalize the community. <sarcasm intended>

Heck, things are so good here that we can chase a developer out of town who wanted to help build us an arena and an urban village in that part of the city that needs major improvement, the West End.

I just read in the Star the other day that the Mayor said that a new economic development report will be released shortly which "paints a 'bleak picture' for the future of Windsor and Essex County if the region does not diversify its economy."

Really! Did we need another report to tell us the obvious. But then again, economic development does not appear to be high on the list of "things to do" by this Administration. To give one example, Dennis Perlin of Enterprise Windsor just announced he is leaving town. I would have thought that his replacement should have been announced right away. I didn't hear of anyone.

Check out the Mayor's Report Card to see how little has really been accomplished in this area http://www.citywindsor.ca/DisplayAttach.asp?AttachID=1439

Back in those pre-election days, the Mayor promised as part of his platform:

• "Many cities across North America have identified and are seeking to develop their cities as technological growth areas. Windsor cannot be left behind.
  
  We need to plan how we are going to capture this business in a highly co-ordinated fashion.
  
  I will set up a task force to develop a strategy for helping us gain the huge potential of the knowledge industry."

I think it is about time for that Task Force to be set up! I think it is about time we start doing something before it is too late.

Oh, and by the way, I just learned yesterday about a company that is very interested in opening a Call Centre in Windsor. It's about 40-60 new jobs. I think I'll give Dennis Perlin a call before he goes to let him know about the opportunity. Hmmmm I wonder whom he should call at City Hall to have this followed up? Perhaps that person might also want to talk to me about my idea for wireless broadband for the entire City building upon Enwin's fibre infrastructure. That might help out the Mayor's Task Force if it is ever set up.