2 January 2009 www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
Idea proposes subsidizing employee wages
By Matthew Sitler work there for them, but econ- the basic core of your work- towards students,” he says.
Local businessman Brian omists are saying that in a year force. Everybody’s still at the “The Northern Ontario Her-
Ross is asking the government or so everything will be back same plants, with the same itage Fund has a program for
to consider subsidizing on track. If they are laid off equipment, the same skills and students and I believe FedNor
employee wages during eco- they would have to go out on so when the economy starts to does too. There’s also one for
nomic downtimes. the unemployment line and the kick back up again, then you apprentices.”
The Pool Spa Sauna Show- government would have to just shift up a gear and keep However, Miller is not total-
room co-owner is bringing this pay unemployment insurance motoring as opposed to trying ly sold on Ross’s idea. He
message to area political lead- anyway.” to start from a dead stop.” feels it’s better that govern-
ers in the hopes of keeping It would be better, opines Norm Miller, MPP for Parry ments look at long-term infra-
existing businesses afloat. Ross, for the government to Sound-Muskoka, says he will structure investments during
“I’m proposing that the subsidize workers’ wages dur- be happy to pass on Ross’s downtimes as a means to stim-
government provide wage ing the tough times while they ideas to finance minister Jim ulate the economy.
subsidies towards a business’s accomplish different types of Flaherty as he conducts his “These are things that the
payroll,” says Ross. “Here’s work around their business. pre-budget consultations. government would have to
the logic on that: take a small “Your employees remain as Miller notes that there are a spend money on eventually
manufacturing plant for taxpayers and they are con- few wage subsidy programs in anyways,” he says.
instance – some guys are laid tributing to society,” says existence now. Miller cites spending mon-
off because there’s not enough Ross. “And you haven’t lost “Mainly they are geared ey on upgrading sewer and
SUBSIDY PLAN: Brian Ross wants to save jobs.
water systems across the
province, electrical grid to rebound and you’ve got “This is just a situation
upgrades as well as improve- new skills.” that’s right out of control,” he
ments to highways and the Miller says he doesn’t like says. “I’m not opposed to cre-
educational infrastructure. “messing with the marketplace ating new jobs, but you only
“I was at Canadore College too much.” need to create jobs when peo-
last week and they are hoping “I just think there’s other ple don’t have a job. If I’m the
to invest in a new campus in ways of going about it,” says government I want people
Parry Sound,” he says. “Edu- Miller of Ross’s idea. “How- being productive and paying
cation is something that ever, as I say, I’m happy to taxes. As the government,
improves our competitiveness, pass on his suggestion to the that’s my only source of rev-
especially at a time when peo- minister of finance so it can be enue. The subsidizing would
Wellington Partners International
ple are losing their jobs. It’s a looked at it in detail.” only be a short-term thing –
Inc. is a leader in Career Transition,
good time to get re-training so Ross says he doesn’t want it’s not a long-term plan. The
hopefully by the time you are to see vacant storefronts and economy has to come back
Executive Search and Human done, the economy has started
local factories closing. some time.”
Resources and Technical
Consulting in the private and
National Grocers set to close
Dan J Brooks,
public sectors.
MSc.OM, CHRP
By Karen Wehrstein cent of his grocery supplies The store’s local manage-
Senior Partner The National Grocers from the store. “The no-name ment had no comment.
Through market shifts or
Cash-and-Carry store in brands we won’t be able to Huntsville economic devel-
Huntsville has announced it get any more. Some stuff will opment officer John Finley
strategic changes, Wellington will close its doors as of Jan. go up a bit in price because
doesn’t anticipate that
Partners is uniquely positioned
Head Office
31. we won’t be able to get rea- Loblaw, which owns the
The news left many local sonably-priced alternatives.” 9,155-sq. ft. building, will
to support you by leading a
508 Riverbend Drive
retailers and resorts scram- National Grocers is owned have any trouble selling it.
confidential professional search for
Suite 302
bling to find an alternative by Loblaw Companies, which “We don’t have a glut of
wholesale grocery supplier. will also be shutting down empty buildings in Huntsville;
new talent or to provide hands-on
Kitchener, ON
“We’ve got together with a National Grocers outlets our vacancy rate is still quite
compassionate career transition
N2K 3S2
number of the other stores in located in Scarborough and low,” he says. “It’s got good
the area, and found a supplier Brampton on the same date. access and adequate parking,
support.
1-800-283-4242
who’ll deliver out this way,” The Huntsville store, which and being close to the high-
says Colin Smith, who owns employs 10 people and sells way, it’s a good location.
the Parkway Resort Trading groceries and restaurant sup- There’ll be a buyer and a use
Contact us to discuss how our
Muskoka Office
Post near Algonquin Provin- plies, mostly to local busi- for it.”
services and professional
90 Kimberley Avenue
cial Park. ness, opened in 1979. Even though they have
The supplier, Wallace & David Primorac, senior another source, local opera-
approach can assist you with
Bracebridge, ON
Carey Inc., is based in Cal- director of public relations for tors such as the Smiths will
specific organizational
P1L 2A4
gary but has distribution cen- Loblaw, says that operating still miss the convenience of a
ters across the country. the Huntsville store is no local store over a delivery
requirements. 705-646-2900
“They can supply almost longer economically viable, service.
all of our needs that National adding that not all the “If we were missing some-
used to provide,” says Smith, province’s National Grocers thing, we used to just pop
www.wellingtonpartners.com who purchased about 90 per outlets are being phased out. over to National to get it.”
Huntsville Barrie Orillia Midland Parry Sound Collingwood
96 Hanes Rd. Unit 1 24 Cedar Point 18 Ontario St. 869 King St.
NEW
14 James St.
290 Pretty River Parkway
Huntsville Business Park, Barrie Orillia Midland
Parry Sound
Collingwood
Tel: (705) 789-1818 Tel: (705) 728-5911 Tel: (705) 325-1335 Tel: (705) 526-5488
Tel: (705) 746-9564
Tel: (705) 445-9311
www.idealsupply.com Since 1926
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