Chair touts reasons for optimism
What a difference a year makes.
In 2019, Niagara Region Chair Jim Bradley delivered his state of the region address to a packed Scotiabank Convention Centre. His message: “We should all believe that Niagara’s future is bright and has no limits.”
On Thursday, Bradley delivered his 2020 state of the region address via video in regional headquarters, but again found inspirational themes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also didn’t sugar-coat present circumstances and delivered the bad news first:
A recently completed survey of businesses shows that one in three report they are at risk of permanent closure due to the pandemic;
Research by Niagara Region Economic Development predicts the pandemic will cost Niagara $16 billion in lost revenues by the end of December if conditions don’t improve;
Statistics Canada found more than 35,000 jobs losses in Niagara in three months, with the actual figure likely higher;
There are projections that show Niagara’s gross domestic product could shrink by 40 per cent if conditions do not start to improve immediately.
Bradley said areas such as Hamilton, Peel, Halton, Durham and London are all faring slightly better than Niagara when it comes to unemployment, with our tourism industry all but closed.
“It is this tourism sector that makes us unique and may continue to have unique challenges even as restrictions are lifted,” Bradley said.
“The amount of infection south of the border makes it difficult to want to see our borders open.”
Bradley also pointed out Niagara’s tourism industry has a history over overcoming challenges — 9/11, SARS, H1N1 — and successfully reinventing itself.
He lauded front-line healthcare professionals and public health staff for working around the clock under high-stress situations to keep us safe. He also said the pandemic has Niagara rethinking what constitutes an essential worker. “Three months ago, many would not have considered those who work at grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, pharmacies, post offices, newsrooms, landfills, farms and construction sites as absolutely essential to keeping our society functioning,” he said.
“These individuals, some of whom make a modest wage, continued to do their jobs during a global pandemic simply because it needed to be done.”
Bradley said Niagara also has manufacturers who shifted their focus to create products to help combat the virus, residents who rallied around frontline health-care workers, and individuals who give their time and money to nonprofits to help support people most in need.
“Yes, our lives may never be the same as they were before, but that does not mean we are worse off,” Bradley said. “In some ways, we have been given the opportunity to rebuild aspects of our economy and our community so that it may better work for everyone. I hope as we slowly and safely start to recover and rebuild, we will do so in partnership and collaboration.”