Trade has been a major part of our history

In August 1756, General Louis-Joseph de Montcalm defeated a force of British and captured 1,700 prisoners at the Battle of Chouaguen (Oswego, N.Y.). Little more than three years later (September, 1759), he died after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham (Quebec).

Montcalm’s success at Chouaguen was part of a campaign to push back the ever encroaching British and New Englanders into French territory. French trading posts extended throughout the length of Lake Ontario, Niagara and as far south as Belle-Riviere (Ohio River).

The conflicts in North America in the 18th century were essentially about territorial acquisition and, the key, trade in beaver pelts.

Trade and pursuit of profit derived from exchanging goods has been principle motivation for much of interaction of peoples for centuries. That should not be surprising.

What is surprising, however, is how regularly people and even some lesser-light politicians and U.S. presidential candidates fail to understand that vigorous trade usually translates into prosperity for some and job dislocation for others.

Ultimately, trade is about jobs. But the new jobs may not be those to which a region has been traditionally attuned.

In Ontario, for example, we struggle to redefine manufacturing in general and the auto industry specifically. Perhaps we should look more closely at alternative ways to define a local economy. This certainly has occurred in Essex County where massive greenhouse/food and wine industries have developed over the past 20 years

What makes the greenhouse industry so fascinating is the level of innovation involved. For example, strawberries may soon rival other crops grown under controlled conditions as the industry expands and innovates.

And further, our region still remains an important source of grain crops.

All of these agriculturally based industries have potential for trade beyond the region.

Thus, when a U.S. presidential candidate says he wants to tear up the NAFTA agreement we should be concerned. As the great Deep South of Canada is like the waist of an hour glass wherein trade flows to, from, and through our border portal.

Windsor and region, like many special economic regions globally, has enormous potential both to be an innovative industrial and manufacturing hub and a key centre for what ultimately should become a major growth industry — food.

Demographics alone suggest that producing and processing food will be a major source of income for those regional economies best able to create, sustain and innovate in food provision.

But food sourcing should not be our only regional economic capacity.

In my view, Windsor and region may be on the cusp of entering and launching a new creative and, I hope, innovative period in our economic history. The region has talent and it has skills and it has creative people.

Matt Marchand, a most industrious president and CEO of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce, now has as a focus partner, Stephen MacKenzie, recently appointed CEO of the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corp.

Because economic development and trade matter we should welcome (may I?) this prospective “dynamic duo” as they take on the incredibly important responsibility for seeing that existing businesses thrive and new businesses are attracted by the synergies derived from our location, our basic agricultural industries, our existing skill sets in manufacturing, our higher educational institutions and a widespread willingness to encourage creativity among small businesses.

Windsor is virtually in the heartland of a continent which has thrived on trade for as long as explorers were chasing beaver pelts. We’ve been at the heart of the automotive industry and now, with an enthusiastic boost from Marchand and MacKenzie we do have a remarkable opportunity to demonstrate that we do not fear change but welcome the challenge of more trade.

We are on the brink of a future where creative and vigorous ideas and innovation should thrive.