Chairs for the four councils include:
Jason Ramsay wants to bring his expertise to the table.
Recently, Ramsay was named chairman of one of the economic advisory councils formed by the provincial government’s rural and regional development department.
“I feel like this is an extension of the school review process. During that time, myself and a group of volunteers in the Bloomfield area got to identify new opportunities for our community and how we can make rural areas grow,” said Ramsay after the government’s official announcement of the advisory councils on this week.
“If you get the right people in, with the right backgrounds, a lot of positive things can happen.”
Ramsay is the general manager for McCain products. He believes his background in agriculture will be an asset to the council.
“Agriculture is a key industry in P.E.I. I’ve worked in different aspects in agriculture. I’m really hoping to see a cross-section of all fields like tourism, fishing, service sector and agriculture come together.
“My goal to come out of this is retention. Build ideas and opportunities that younger people or even people my age can retain that will encourage them to stay in the community.”
Ramsay wants to see healthy communities grow because of – John Ramsay, Chair, West Regional Economic Advisory Council
– Rick Kennedy, Chair, East Prince/West Queens Regional Economic Advisory Council – Jennifer Dunn, Chair, Capital/ Central Regional Economic Advisory Council
– Scott Annear, Chair, East Regional Economic Advisory Council
this new initiative.
“P.E.I. as a whole needs healthier communities with more opportunities for residents and businesses. If we can build that, we can make P.E.I. as a whole more viable and that’s a good thing.”
The Regional Economic Advisory councils will consist of five to seven members appointed by the premier and cabinet.
Goals of the council include: – Developing economic growth strategies for the region, identifying and leveraging strength areas, and drawing on existing economic development organizations while collaborating with municipal and federal governments.
– Identifying platforms and clusters in the region including food, energy, technology and bioscience) and advise on growth and investment opportunities
– Ensuring labour development and youth entrepreneurship activity connected to potential growth
– Enhancing population growth and helping in targeted population attraction with employment and economic opportunities
– Advising on strategic infrastructure development that supports growth in the region.
Pat Murphy, the minister for the department of Rural and Regional Development, says the councils are an important way to get community members involved.
He sees them as “a way to move rural P.E.I. forward and promote and grow our assets.”
Dan Kutcher, president of the Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce, is taking a waitand-see approach after the announcement.
“It’s a little short on details. But the chairs are great individuals and have the expertise and knowledge for the position. But now we’ll have to see how well the concept is received.”
Kutcher is wondering what will happen to the Summerside Regional Development Corporation, the properties and investments it manages, and the individuals who are employed there?
“We’re not sure what the mandate is. We don’t know what, if any, kind of power these councils have been given and we don’t know what, if anything, they will be replacing.
“Appointments are good but not without the action to back them up.”