in this issue 15 may 2007Ontario Tourism: Our Industry, our obligations NOTICE: CW Chamber Annual General Meeting Ontario Chamber of Commerce 95th AGM - Improving Ontario's Competitiveness What Every Business Should Know About Counterfeit Money Identity Theft on the RIse - What you can do to protect your id Building Permits Report for Centre Wellington congratulationsJames Keating Construction is celebrating 50 years in the home building business in Elora and Fergus in 2007. Congratulations Jim and Fran! Patients in Centre Wellington won't have to travel to Kitchener anymore for chemotherapy treatments. On April 24th Groves Memorial Community Hospital opened their new Oncology Clinic. Volunteers raised almost $190,000 for the treatment centre with remaining costs being covered by Queen's Park cancer care program. The clinic expects to see 100-150 patients which will be approximately 1,000 to 1,500 visits annually. chamber eventsWednesday, May 16th Business Luncheon with guest speaker Lee Pomeroy of TD Mutual Funds. The topic is "The Impact of Leadership...it isn't an accident. How some of the top leaders in North America make it happen!" Networking Breakfast - Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 7:30 am at Grand River Raceway. This meeting we will review the work of the Chamber over the past year. Come on out and get involved in your Chamber! community eventsJunior Achievement BBQ on Saturday, May 26th between 11 am and 3 pm at M & M Meat Shops (744 Tower Street South, Fergus). JA has 10 programs operating in local Centre Wellington schools, so please come out and support this excellent program. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Centre Wellington are hosting their annual Golf Tournament on Wednesday, May 30 at Ariss Valley Golf & Country Club. If you are interested in registering a team, being a hole sponsor or donating prizes, please contact Ralph Basset Associates Inc at 519-843-4852 May 18, 2007 International Museum Day! Celebrated around the world since 1977, International Museum Day offers every community the opportunity to recognize and celebrate their collective heritage. Here in Wellington County, the Wellington County Museum & Archives is highlighting the 175th anniversary of Elora with a special presentation May 18, by Dr. Steve Thorning, John Connon’s View of Elora. John Connon was a long time resident of Elora, an inventor, historian and photographer who captured the spirit of Elora’s early days in a remarkable collection of photographs. This presentation is free to the public and begins at 1:30pm in Aboyne Hall. Refreshments and the unveiling of a new sculpture will follow. For more information about Wellington County Museum and upcoming events, please visit www.wcm.on.ca or call 519-846-0916
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ArticlesOntario tourism: Our industry, our obligationsBy Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott Ontario tourism is a $21 billion industry. It is founded on our Province’s natural scenic beauty, the charm of our small towns, our friendliness and warm hospitality, and the culture and attractions we have in communities large and small. Centre Wellington is blessed with spectacular views and vistas. We have a proud tradition of celebrations like the Elora Festival, the Fergus Truck Show, the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games, and the Reminessence Festival. These are but a few examples of community-rooted festivities that open up our heritage, our brilliant arts and culture to the world. Ontario’s geography, our close proximity, and the promise of a safe clean place to visit have long given our American neighbours an ideal option for holidays. Our Province is a great place to visit with very little fuss, inconvenience and planning. However, this positive impression is changing rapidly. Ontario tourism has encountered a great number of challenges that need to be addressed. The industry is still recovering from the negative perceptions that were created following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and SARS. On top of that, the value of the Canadian dollar is stronger than it has been in recent years, which makes a holiday here seem less of a bargain to our potential American tourists. As a result, there has been a very sharp decline in the number of visitors from the United States. On May 7th, the Toronto Star editorial page featured an article about tourism. Addressing some of the challenges our industry faces, they defined the importance of tourism trade with the United States of America in compelling words. The Star stated that: “The number of American visitors – the lifeblood of a vibrant tourism industry – is in freefall.” The article then cited the US-led passport requirement as part of the problem that has led to a dramatic decline in US visits to Ontario, even though it isn’t in effect for car travel at the present time. Unfortunately, many potential tourists from the United States believe they will need a passport to get back home. This is an urgent problem. The Ontario Ministry of Tourism should do targeted advertising that tells Americans that they’re welcome here, and that they currently don’t need a passport when they leave Ontario to return home. We’re heading into the peak tourism season, so the McGuinty Liberal Government should be doing this right now. There is no sign at present that such action will be taken. Instead what we have is a self-serving advertising fund being spent by the McGuinty Liberals that is ignoring the urgent needs of Ontario’s tourism industry. They have virtually written off the American market. Just before the end of the year, the Government did finally announce a $22 million fund to encourage Ontarians to take their holiday within the Province. This followed on the heels of an ‘economic stimulus’ package announced in the Finance Minister’s Fall Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review. While I hope that it benefits our tourism industry, it appears that the Government’s advertising is really intended to create a positive impression of the Ontario Liberal Party in the lead up to the Provincial election. The tourism industry, just like our successful local festivals, can’t be taken for granted. Success takes hard work, planning and partnership. The Government’s obligation is to work with the industry, in communities large and small, and take the action that it is needed. The Province should serve the tourism industry, not the partisan interests of the Government of the day. Further Information: Ted Arnott, MPP 1-800-265-2366 / 519 787-5247 www.tedarnottmpp.com NOTICE: CW Chamber of Commerce-Annual General MeetingNOTICE: The Annual General Meeting of the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 7:30 am at Grand River Raceway, Elora. Cost is $15 for Members or $20 for Future Members and includes a hot buffet breakfast. RSVP to 519-843-5140 or rscarrow@cwchamber.ca IMPROVING ONTARIO’S COMPETITIVENESS:
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Disclaimer - Any opinions and articles in this newsletter, do not necessarily express the views of the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce. We take every effort to ensure correct spelling and accuracy of information. If you have any comments or concerns, please email rscarrow@cwchamber.ca or phone 519-843-5140.
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Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce | 400 Tower Street South | Fergus | Ontario | N1M 2P7 | Canada