Collingwood, its harbour, and the economic future of the community
Posted By RICHARD ROHMER, O. C., Q. C.
Posted 5 months ago
Now that the water level of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay are apparently rising again to so called normal levels that fact triggers the question: what about the grand, once bustling Collingwood Harbour-- does it have a commercial future?
By that I mean, "will we ever see a lake freighter or (for that matter) an ocean going vessel pull in to the Harbour to pick up or discharge a cargo?"
Nice question.
Around town in shop windows and in the Town's museum there are yesteryear pictures of all manner of ships in the Harbour doing their business. Including passenger ships.
Those were the days of the railway trains and before the automobile, the motor vehicle truck and the huge highways that now bring goods and people to the Collingwood area--and also take them away.
The temptation was to use the word "booming" before the word "Collingwood." But that applies today only to people movements and little by way of goods, except for those to serve our retail stores and the construction of buildings (houses mostly) and the expansion of the services (roads, sewers, water, electricity) that support them.
In essence, the Harbour is "dead" (no freighters) because there now is no area industry to create a demand for goods that must arrive or depart by ship. Such as grain, minerals, huge machinery and equipment that cannot be highway-or railway-carried.
That's the situation at this time. But what about the future?
In today's world of unexpected, unanticipated change, particularly economic change, anything can happen.
The grand St. Lawrence Seaway gives Collingwood Harbour direct Great Lakes ship access to and from the world markets.
The automobile industry in Europe, North America and Asia is in turmoil with prospects for new manufacturing plants being established in Canada especially for small hybrid electric/gasoline vehicles.
Parts and vehicles for assembly from Europe and Asia could have an excellent 'by ship' access point through Collingwood Harbour.
Sounds far fetched? Not really because the Collingwood area is perfectly suited for large product manufacturing, be it automotive, machinery of all kinds and (believe it or not) the building of ships!
Try CSL resurrected in some form on the harbour. Why not?
At this time the Collingwood area economic focus is on tourism, recreation and as a fantastic place to which to 'retire'. Beautiful!
On the other hand, the Town's government (with the area municipalities) might well organize an industrial search and sales pitch program that would be presented to/dropped on any international or national prospect looking for an ideal spot to set up shop.
If Alliston could pull in Honda (to which Collingwood supplies fresh water) there's no reason why Collingwood with its super harbour and all other transportation facilities (rail, air, road) couldn't go after something 'big'.
Generally speaking, a pro-active industrial search and sales pitch pro-gram would be a challenge for the Town to put together.
It would require substantial funding to be put together by professionals. And it would require strong leadership-- which is available at the Town's Council table.
