More Little Ones

Here are some more smaller stories that you might find of interest.

WHO AUTHORIZED THIS SPENDING

I see that Eddie's big conference is back. You know the one that was cancelled supposedly because of lack of ticket sales ie the one for which people had no interest in spending $10. The one at the Capitol that was to have been held the night before it closed. The one in which there were pickets anyway.

Well it's back and this time it is FREE. Yes no charge, gratis. You won't have to spend a dime, never mind $10. Now free should boost the numbers shouldn't it:

• "Looking Forward: Windsor's Future in a Changing World (Rescheduled)
  
  What is Windsor’s place in the global economy? What must we do to attract new business and industry? Are we growing the way we should grow? Mayor Eddie Francis will explore these and other important questions when he hosts a thought-provoking and inspiring evening with Diane Francis and Glen Murray...
  
  Together they will discuss our strengths and weaknesses and suggest how to secure a stronger presence in the national and global economies."

This time around a new paragraph was added to the news release to justify the City paying the costs.

• "These distinguished guests were invited to Windsor as part of the City of Windsor’s Official Plan Review. In the second phase of the review, the City will work with the community to reflect on Windsor’s position and future in the global setting, with input from those who see our community from the outside. This engaging event will initiate our community’s exploration of these and other issues."

Yup, you and I, we are paying for it. Now I have no idea how much the cancellation cost nor do I have any idea how much this will cost the City but give me a break. Does the Mayor really think he can insult our intellgience in this fashion? I cannot stand this type of BS! Offical Plan Review...get real!

And what do our fiscally responsible Councillors have to say about it. Did they allow the expenditure of money in this one-shot Eddie ego-building PR session? Wait until the delegation stage of the Budget session! Some interesting questions will be asked I am sure. I also wonder how many picketers will be out in force at the session as well to express their views!

NEVER MIND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, OUR COMPETITION IS WALLACEBURG

Wallaceburg to get about 400 jobs with call centre
Star News Services, April 07, 2007

CHATHAM - A North Carolina-based company is bringing a new contact-call centre to Wallaceburg.

The operation will eventually employ about 400 people.

The company, Help Desk Now, is expected to make job offers as early as today, with training possibly starting on Monday.

IF ONLY HE HAD BEEN THERE

Did you see the big Page 2 story with Eddie's photos and quotes about the Government's "green levy?"

The Star did mention that Eddie was "who is co-chairman of the group, but missed Wednesday’s meeting." I guess the Star finally had to report it since it appeared first in this BLOG for local consumption.

Can you imagine the size of the story if he had been there!

CALLING OFF NDP'S MICHAEL PRUE

How are they going to stop him now? You remember him don't you...he was the NDPer who went after Sandra Pupatello on Project Ice Track:

• "Windsor-West MPP Sandra Pupatello was blasted Monday by her political rivals for not intervening in the relocation of the $55- million Project Ice Track from Windsor to Tecumseh.
  
  "A couple of weeks ago you were named minister of economic development: Your job is to bring jobs in, not letting them go away," NDP MPP Michael Prue told Pupatello during Question Period in Queen's Park. "
  
• "Fisher told listeners it's good that government and opposition benches are separated by two sword lengths because that's all that kept the Windsor West MPP and economic development minister from laying a whupping on her relentless interrogator, NDP critic Michael Prue...
  
  But the Pupatello spectacle is irresistible. Prue was on her case much of last week and again Thursday, and judging by her ferocious reaction, his poison darts are beginning to penetrate her armour. "

Sure Project Ice Track may be done, but Prue is not:

• "Windsor seems to be the hardest hit place in the province, and I am so disappointed in Sandra Pupatello and Dwight Duncan, and their lack of doing or saying anything," said Michael Prue, a Toronto New Democrat MPP, who highlighted the region's economic woes at Queen's Park earlier this week. Prue criticized Pupatello for leading trade missions to such countries as India and Japan, while manufacturing jobs in her hometown disappear. "She is over there trying to get the Japanese automakers to come and build more plants in Canada. I know that's what she's trying to do, but the government's success has singularly left Windsor out. These jobs are going to Woodstock and Alliston."

WORDS COME BACK TO HAUNT

Here is the reason why a DRIC bridge cannot be built! Can you believe the losses to taxpayers if the bridge had actually been built. The DRIC traffic projections based on what was said recently in Detroit would have cost us dearly.

• "Spokesmen reject report, nix a Downriver tunnel
  
  Bobby Ampezzan, The News-Herald, May 29, 2005
  
  DETROIT — The Border Transportation Partnership on Wednesday debunked a recently published report that said another international crossing isn't necessary because binational traffic has actually decreased since 1999-2000.
  
  Partnership consultant Joe Corradino said Wednesday that the drop in border traffic is due to the "collision of a number of negative factors."
  
  However, truck traffic between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, recently has resumed pre-9/11 levels, Corradino said. And although both MDOT and the U.S. Department of Transportation chart a decline in border traffic since 2000, he said, the partnership anticipates a strong rebound in 2005.

Public meeting Meeting, March, 21, 2007

• "Q. – Betty Hegedus said she is a lifetime resident. An El Central newspaper article says a sixlane,
  cable-stayed bridge will be added next to the Ambassador Bridge. So, if they do their
  project, does that mean there will be three bridges?
  
  R. – We do not know whether that second span of the Ambassador Bridge will happen.
  Nonetheless, it is believed (by Joe Corradino) that the market won’t support three bridges."

CHANGING SLOW GROWTH TO FAST

Did you read the story:

• "the Windsor census metropolitan area is expected to post the slowest rate of economic growth among Canadian CMAs for the second year in a row...
  
  And while construction is trying to hold its own, housing starts across the Windsor area are at their lowest in two decades and only construction of Casino Windsor and a new eastside arena will help the industry stabilize through the remainder of the year.
  
  There won’t be great growth in this sector but we do expect a rebound in the summer months as these two major projects proceed."

I would have thought that the Casino contractor already hired his staff and PCR has already tendered out the arena job to subtrades remember so how many jobs will these projects create?

Hey, I have a silly idea for the Windsor Construction Association. How about getting all of your members and all of their employees and all of their friends and families to write to Sandra and Dwight and to Jeff Watson and Stephen Harper and demand that the road to the Ambassador Bridge be built now along with expediting approvals for their enhancement project.

With a billion or more dollars to be invested, that could produce about 10-15,000 high paying infrastructure and spin-off jobs for the next few years!

Do you think that this would be a very good example of raising a gazelle in our economic garden? Perhaps the Economic Development Commission could say something positive as well within their first 120 days of action.