SCOR EDC

1. SCOR EDC COMPENDIUM OF ROMA REQUESTS 2012

2. WHO WE ARE Regional ACTION and RESULTS ORIENTED EDC COMPRISED OF: 5 counties 22 municipalities, 285 towns, villages & hamlets 490,000+ eligible voters • BRANT • ELGIN • MIDDLESEX • NORFOLK • OXFORD

3. The Path Forward Strategic Plan Our Vision: In 2020, SCOR has a sustainable, prosperous and diverse economy, driven by innovation. • OUR FOCUS: • AGRIBUSINESS & FOOD INDUSTRY • ENERGY • TOURISM • YOUTH RETENTION & ATTRACTION • MANUFACTURING • PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE • ENVIRONMENT • QUALITY OF LIFE (HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES)

4. Working Together What We Do • Shareregional information • Provideregional planning & coordination • Implement regional economic development strategies • Identify and lead regional funding opportunities • Createregional partnerships & alliances • Actas a regional catalyst for investment

5. Sand Plains CDF STEERING OF SAND PLAINS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND

6. Accomplishments • Competitive Edge Project with resulting recommendations • SCOR Business Portal • OFVGA Accessing the Marketplace • Decision Making Services Workshop – Rural Secretariat • Strategic alliances with Western Ontario Wardens Caucus, Southwest Economic Alliance and Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation • SCOR has developed a framework for working with Erie Innovation and Commercialization & Community Futures Development Corporations in the region • SCOR continues to develop relationships with post secondary institutions

7. Current Projects • Supporting residents and communities interests in PPS • Maintaining the Competitive Edge: Regional Infrastructure: 1. Regional Water 2. Regional Waste management solutions 3. Regional energy through waste projects 4. Regional Bio-fuel projects • Manufacturing Capabilities Index • Access to Market Projects- local berry growers & ethnic vegetables • SCOR area research stations • Rural Transportation • Support of tourism product development: various projects (equine, OSWGA, Lavender)

8. Energy • Issue: Energy from Waste (EFW) • Energy From Waste (EFW) can serve the needs of diverting waste from landfill, increasing recycling and using waste as a legitimate fuel for Green Energy production. • Diversion will also dramatically reduce direct costs of establishing, operating and providing perpetual care to landfill sites. These costs can be in the multiple millions of dollars that can then be redirected into economic development and other necessary services and programs. • The use of bio-fuels, especially those that are “purpose grown” on marginal lands, can be used as supplemental fuels in greenhouses, in large energy producing facilities and more generally in home heating. • Bio-fuels are Green energy sources and the government is encouraged to promote and support the needed research in the related technologies. • Request: • SCOR asks that the Minister consider our request to promote and support the needed research in the related technologies of Energy from Waste and Biofuel. • In addition, we request you to support SCOR in its effort to establish pilot projects at Research Stations in the region such as the Delhi and Simcoe locations.

9. Education • Issue: Closure of Small, Rural Schools • The proposed closure of small, rural schools has a negative impact on our rural communities.  • In small, rural communities school, be it elementary or secondary, are the heart of their community, • Schools are important to economic development & vitality in a community – not only retaining youth but retaining and attracting residents. • By removing schools in a small community you remove their promise of prosperity and future for its youth.  • Request: • SCOR asks that the Minister consider our request to support rural and small urban communities. • Consider schools as multi-use community assets not just cost centres for school boards • Communities and school boards prefer not to face this reoccurring challenge every few years.  Invest in the future and leave our small community schools alone, unless the community itself wishes to do things differently

10. Transportation & Infrastructure • Issue: LONG TERM PLANNING FOR REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE • SCOR would like to thank the Minister for investments made to-date. • SCOR recently completed a project entitled Maintaining the Competitive Edge. Regional infrastructure was identified as a priority for investment attraction and long term growth. The SCOR municipalities request seed money to begin a long term capital plan for arterial roads and transportation corridors through the region that will facilitate efficient use of invested capital. • Our approach could be a template in seeking efficiencies in making infrastructure investments Request: SCOR asks that the Minister consider our request to support us in a pilot regional water capacity study and subsequent plan. The need for regional water plan is agreed on by all regional partners. Many areas are near or at supply capacity. By moving forward sooner rather than later it will give the region an infrastructure investment plan that provides efficient planning and best use of scarce investment capital.

11. MEDI Issue: Southwestern Ontario Economic Development Fund Would like to thank the Ministry for their recognition of the need of an economic development fund for the region SCOR further would like to express support for the fund that we have long been advocating for Request: SCOR asks that the Minister consider our request for input into the design and delivery model of the newly announced Southwestern Ontario Economic Development Fund

12. Health • Issue: Physician & Healthcare Professional Recruitment • Rural and small urban communities in Ontario face difficulties in doctor and health care professional recruitment • Difficulty in accessing care discourages people from living and investing in the area. • This is further exacerbated by the change in definition by the province of "under serviced” areas. • Request: • SCOR asks that the Minister consider our request consideration of policies and initiatives that might ease the shortage of health care professionals in small urban and rural communities. • We need assurance of adequate service to retain and attract skilled people and to grow our economies.

13. OMAFRA • Issue: MPAC Policy • MPAC policy on assessment of recently built grain drying & storage facilities that are classed as commercial when doing even a small amount of custom drying and storage on-farm • The policy being applied does not seem consistent with other small scale on-farm businesses. It creates unfair competition (new vs. existing). Commercial assessment results in local taxes rising from $5000 to about $25,000 creating an uneven playing field for newer facilities. • General principle suggested: if the value added represents less than 25% of total farm revenue then the business is considered part of the farm business and is assessed as such. • Request: • SCOR asks that the Minister support our request to revise the apparent policy being applied by MPAC. We feel the suggested policy of relative size and revenue would be consistent with other secondary or value-added on-farm businesses.

14. Community & Correctional Services • Issue: High Cost of Policing • Costly service agreements impact all communities through template approaches. There is an opportunity for genuine negotiation and creative approaches to region-wide servicing strategies. • Request: • SCOR asks that the Minister consider our request to review alternate methods of determining policing costs for rural and smaller communities. Rural and small urban centres are paying the same rate as large urban centres for policing costs but local issues and daily jobs are often vastly different.

15. Aboriginal Affairs & MAH • Issue: MPAC Policy on Farm Assessment • The policy being applied does not seem consistent with other small scale on-farm businesses • In treatment of new grain drying and storage facilities MPAC has created an uneven competitive environment. The commercial assessment of recently built facilities results in local taxes rising from $5000 to about $25,000 creating an uneven playing field for newer facilities. • Following normal guidelines there is a solution. Usually, if the value added represents less than 25% of total farm revenue then the business is considered part of the farm business and is assessed as such. Request: 1) MPAC POLICY ON FARM ASSESSMENT SCOR asks that the Minister consider our request to adjust the policy on assessment of recently and newly constructed valued added buildings and equipment. 2) SCOR Directors would like to discuss the new PPS before it is implemented to assure that the new policy reflects the realities of small urban and rural communities

16. Aboriginal Affairs & MAH • Issue: Streamline relations between rural municipalities and First Nations Neighbours • To request streamlining of relationships between small, rural municipalities and First Nations neighbours • Municipal standards for water and sewage are governed by Ministry of Environment (Provincial) Standards & First Nations standards are governed on Federal standards. Shared systems are discouraged because of the varying standards and resulting risks and liability. • It discourages working together as partners on common or overlapping water and sewage treatment infrastructure. • Request: • MUNICIPAL & FIRST NATIONS STANDARDS FOR WATER & SEWAGE • SCOR asks that the Minister consider our request to facilitate and encourage harmonized standards for water and sewage systems shared between local jurisdictions and First Nations communities operating on federally regulated standards.

17. KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING! We have accomplished a great deal since October 2010 but in order to reap the full benefit of this partnership and continue to create economic diversity and stability in our entire region we need to keep the momentum going!

18. Thank You! Any Questions?