Eastern Ontario Leadership Council

EOLC Webinar Recording: COVID-19 Impacts on Eastern Ontario Economy

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 17:15:00 GMT

Eastern Ontario, June 26, 2020 – Last Friday, June 19, the EOLC and Limestone Analytics held a webinar regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the Eastern Ontario economy, in the presence of approximately 50 attendees from across the region.

The EOLC is providing a recording of the webinar in order to assist in sharing the data modelling work that Limestone Analytics has provided regarding the impacts of COVID-19 and preliminary work on recovery scenarios. The EOLC encourages stakeholders to watch and share the recording, which is available via Google Drive here.

The report prepared by Limestone Analytics estimates that between February and April 2020, COVID-19 reduced the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by about $1.8 billion, and has reduced employment by the equivalent of 64,000 full-time jobs.

Using tailored input-output modelling techniques, Limestone Analytics has also created four projections for what the GDP and employment impact could be by the end of 2020. The cumulative impact on GDP ranges from a low of -$6.6 billion to a high of -$8.1 billion, depending on the scenario. The projected impact on full-time equivalent employment ranges from a loss of 56,000 jobs to a high of 73,000 jobs.

The EOLC wishes to thank Kelly Pender and Justin Bromberg for organizing and co-hosting this event. Please direct any follow-up comments or queries related to content to:

Kathryn Wood

Project Coordinator, EOLC

613-376-6006

kwood4297@gmail.com

The EOLC wishes to recognize the financial support of the Ontario government in these projects. To learn more, please visit www.eolc.info or write to contact@eolc.info.

EOLC launches 2019 Refresh of Regional Economic Strategy

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 15:15:00 GMT

EOLC launches 2019 Refresh of Regional Economic Strategy

Release of Refreshed Strategy Kicks off Implementation of Priority Projects

Cornwall, September 30, 2019 – The Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC) officially launched the “refreshed” version and the implementation plans for the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Strategy earlier this month as part of the Ontario East Municipal Conference (OEMC) in Cornwall.

The EOLC’s unique regional governance model was first developed in 2015 with the goal of advancing economic development opportunities in Eastern Ontario and pursuing opportunities to maintain and enhance its economic prosperity. Its five partners are the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus, the Eastern Ontario Regional Network, the Ontario East Economic Development Commission, and Community Futures Ontario East.

“Through the EOLC, Eastern Ontario became the first region in Ontario to undertake the development – and now, the refresh and forthcoming implementation – of a regional strategy,” stated EOLC Co-Chair Ron Higgins, Warden of the County of Frontenac. “The EOLC was also able to accomplish this in accordance with the Province’s regional economic development planning process, thereby becoming a model for the rest of Ontario.”

The implementation plans unveiled at the OEMC Conference represent the three foundational pillars and priorities of the Strategy – Workforce Development and Deployment; Technology Integration and Innovation; and Integrated, Intelligent Transportation Systems – as well as a new, fourth priority, Digital Infrastructure. These implementations plans will guide the EOLC’s work through 2024 and allow for project development funding to the three working groups.

“The Strategy Refresh has confirmed that the economic issues affecting the region in 2014 are still very much present today. In a region dominated by small businesses, there is a sense that workforce issues and digital infrastructure are more important than ever,” explained EOLC Co-Chair Diane Therrien, Mayor of the City of Peterborough. “However, these implementation projects – such as the creation of the Municipal Innovation Certification Program – will be the fundamental tools required to advance the regional economy and fulfill the EOLC’s vision.”

The EOLC would like to recognize the financial support of the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade in completing the Strategy Refresh process. To read the Strategy Refresh and learn more about the EOLC’s implementation process, including the presentations made at the OEMC Conference, please visit www.eolc.info.

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For more information about this news release, please contact EOLC Co-Chairs Ron Higgins at mayorhiggins@xplornet.com and Diane Therrien at dtherrien@peterborough.ca.

Photo credit: David L. Slack Photography / www.davidlslack.ca

Provincial funding will help tackle cellular dead zones across Eastern Ontario

Fri, 17 May 2019 19:00:00 GMT

Brockville, May 17, 2019 – Investing in rural broadband infrastructure is critical for communities to
engage in the growing digital economy, create jobs and enjoy economic growth.

Today, Monte McNaughton, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure was in Northumberland County to
announce that the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) will receive $71 million to help fill gaps in
mobile broadband coverage that are standing in the way of the region’s economic development.

There are currently significant gaps in both the reach and capacity of mobile broadband networks across
areas of rural Eastern Ontario where people live, work or travel:
• 40% of the area does not have access to high-definition services that allows streaming HD video.
• 20% of the area does not have access to standard definition video, typical mobile app use and video
app calling.
• 10% has no voice call service.

EORN has developed a $213 million public-private partnership to improve both the reach and quality of
mobile broadband services in the region.

The province is providing one-third of the project funding. EORN is also seeking one-third federal
funding support. All members of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and most municipalities within
the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus have committed to contributing to the $10 million municipal share.
Mobile carriers, who will be selected through a competitive bidding process, are expected to provide
the balance of the funding.

The gaps are the result of market failure. Rural areas don’t generate enough revenue for mobile carriers
to build adequate services. The CRTC recently designated both mobile and fixed broadband as basic
services for all Canadians. The public-private partnership will reduce carriers’ infrastructure costs,
creating a stronger business case to improve services and meet the CRTC’s basic service goals.

The improvements could unlock significant economic potential over 10 years, including:
• More than 3,000 full-time job equivalents.
• More than $420 million in private sector business revenues.

About EORN
EORN, a non-profit created by the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC), helped to improve broadband access to nearly 90% of Eastern Ontario through a $175 million fixed broadband network funded by the federal, provincial and municipal governments and private sector service providers. It works with governments and community organizations to improve and leverage broadband access to fuel economic development and growth across the region.

The EOWC directed EORN to prepare and submit a project proposal to improve access to mobile broadband services and support the creation of a public safety broadband network. More information is available at www.eorn.ca.

“Our government has committed to help people get the broadband and cellular connections they need. This means there are homes, businesses and major roadways where it is difficult to access the internet from a smart phone. We all know examples where people are put in dangerous positions because of dropped calls or lost connections during emergencies.”
- Monte McNaughton, Minister of Infrastructure

“Too often, Eastern Ontarians find themselves with no signal or dropped cell services. EORN is building on the investment we’ve already made in broadband infrastructure across the region to close the gap in mobile services and improve economic growth, quality of life and public safety.”
- EORN Chair J. Murray Jones

“The demand for mobile broadband is growing exponentially, but our region is deeply lacking the needed infrastructure to keep up. This project is our top priority because Eastern Ontario’s economic future is at stake.”
- EOWC Chair Andy Letham

Major projects position EOLC to support region's economic recovery

Tue, 26 May 2020 14:00:00 GMT

Eastern Ontario, May 26, 2020 – As Ontario continues to reopen the provincial economy over the coming weeks and months, the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC) is currently preparing and positioning itself to support the region’s economic recovery, namely through several major projects initiated in the months leading up to the COVID-19 crisis.

In the last few months, the EOLC launched the Workforce Commuter Strategy and initiated a partnership on a One-Window Permitting System for Freight Movement. The EOLC is also initiating a Labour Market Artificial Intelligence (AI) Project, effective immediately.

“All of these projects are designed to put in place technologies and other services that will help private and public sector stakeholders better understand the regional economy and the economic impacts of COVID-19, as well as support economic recovery efforts for businesses, municipalities and individuals that are part of the regional labour market,” stated EOLC Co-Chair Diane Therrien, Mayor of the City of Peterborough.

Interested stakeholders are invited to follow the EOLC’s work through recent and forthcoming communications and reports available on the EOLC website, including quarterly updates on current projects and reports on the region’s overall economic recovery.

“During these difficult and uncertain times, it is a testament to our collective strength, perhaps now more than ever, that the EOLC has committed to continuing its important regional work and partnerships to stimulate research, analysis, data and collaborative projects that improve the overall business climate in Eastern Ontario,” added EOLC Co-Chair Ron Higgins, Mayor of the Township of North Frontenac.

The implementation and recent advancements of the EOLC, whose annual operations are funded by its members, have now allowed the organization to generate significant additional investments from external partners for these projects, currently amounting to $1.1 million.

“Through the EOLC, Eastern Ontario became the first region across the province to undertake the development and the implementation of a regional economic development strategy,” noted Co-Chairs Therrien and Higgins. “Today, its projects have not only created a significant return on investment to its member organizations, but these initiatives are leading to solutions that cross municipal boundaries and will continue to provide new opportunities for our region.”

The EOLC wishes to recognize the financial support of the Ontario government in these projects. To learn more and consult relevant documents, or participate in initiatives and projects, please visit www.eolc.info or write to contact@eolc.info.

Business Case for Incorporation of Eastern Ontario Leadership Council

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 14:30:00 GMT

Belleville, October 3, 2020 – The Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC), through the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus (EOWC), is proposing to incorporate for two primary reasons: to apply for government grants, and to assume control of its own liability.

The attached business case outlines the case for the EOLC's incorporation, and will be posted publicly for a period of 45 days (being until November 17, 2020), to allow for public comment.

For any questions or comments, please write to contact@eolc.info.

EOLC Recognized for Regional Cross-Border Collaboration at EDCO 2018 Awards

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 16:15:00 GMT

The Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC), a multi-organization partnership tasked with advancing regional economic development opportunities, was recognized with an important award during the annual Economic Developers’ Council of Ontario Conference in Toronto on Wednesday, February 7.

The EOLC consists of five major partners: the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus, the Eastern Ontario Regional Network, the Ontario East Economic Development Commission, and Community Futures Ontario East. Through three working groups – workforce, technology/innovation, and transportation – the EOLC is implementing its 2014 regional economic development strategy, designed to tackle issues regarding the economic performance of the region, and pursue opportunities to maintain and enhance the region’s economic prosperity.

The EOLC was honoured with the Collaboration & Partnership Award in the category of “Regional and Cross-Border Collaboration” representing populations of 250,000 and greater. For an organization whose work began less than three years ago, this is an important recognition that the EOLC’s collaborative regional model is a progressive step forward in the field of economic development.

“The Eastern Ontario Leadership Council is a unique organization in Ontario, founded on the principle of promoting regional economic development in collaboration with the many municipalities and stakeholders across our entire region. Our territory includes more than 110 municipalities, which together represent about 1.2 million residents,” stated EOLC Co-Chair Leslie O’Shaughnessy, Mayor of the City of Cornwall.

“We are extremely proud of the work being done at a regional level, which has recently attracted the attention of the provincial Ministry of Economic Development and Growth. In the near future, Eastern Ontario’s inclusive and collaborative model for economic development could become a model for other regions,” added Co-Chair John Fenik, Warden of the County of Lanark. “The EOLC is extremely eager to continue its work, for the benefit of our region and for economic development everywhere.”

EOLC receives first report on impact of COVID-19 on regional economy

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 18:30:00 GMT

Eastern Ontario, June 11, 2020 – At its board meeting held this morning, the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC) received the first detailed assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on the regional economy of Eastern Ontario, with a specific focus on its labour market.

The report, prepared by Limestone Analytics of Kingston, Ontario, estimates that between February and April 2020, COVID-19 reduced the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by about $1.8 billion, and has reduced employment by the equivalent of 64,000 full-time jobs.

“When the lockdown restrictions hit with full force in mid-March, we knew that we needed to develop a way to track the economic impact of the pandemic across the regional economy,” stated EOLC Co-Chair Ron Higgins. “Given that our analysis indicates that the impacts of COVID-19 are equivalent to a three-year loss in GDP growth, the magnitude of those numbers make it clear we have our work cut out for us.”

“Monitoring the state of the regional economy is a core element of the EOLC’s mandate, and in this case, we needed to move quickly,” added EOLC Co-Chair Diane Therrien. “Limestone Analytics has been an agile partner as we sought to understand both current and potential impacts in what is still a very uncertain economic environment. With this assessment in hand, the EOLC can now make strategic choices about how best to support our region’s recovery.”

In addition to modelling impact and formulating a range of forward-looking scenarios, Limestone Analytics also created an online dashboard so that viewers can see how the pandemic’s impact varies across the region and across sectors. The EOLC will host a webinar shortly to brief stakeholders on the detailed results. Interested parties may register by writing to the EOLC here.

For more information:

Kathryn Wood Bahman Kashi

Project Coordinator, EOLC President, Limestone Analytics

613-376-6006 613-770-6737

kwood4297@gmail.com bahman@limestone-analytics.com

The EOLC wishes to recognize the financial support of the Ontario government in these projects. To learn more, please visit www.eolc.info or write to contact@eolc.info.

EOLC Reports and Literature Reviews on Recent Projects

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 20:00:00 GMT

The Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC) has recently published three detailed reports and literature reviews regarding recent projects undertaken by the EOLC:

Commuter Analysis and Business Case Development Project
Economic Resilience and Recovery in a Regional Labour Market
Development of an Artificial Intelligence Tool for Labour Market Analysis

The reports can be viewed below. A year-end stakeholders' report will also soon be publushed regarding the EOLC's work and accomplishments in 2020.

EOLC Secures Funding to Advance Regional Economic Strategy

Tue, 24 Apr 2018 15:15:00 GMT

The Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC), a multi-organization partnership tasked with advancing regional economic development opportunities, welcomes the announcement from the Province of Ontario on the $135,000 funding grant to refresh and plan for implementation of the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Strategy.

Minister Jeff Leal, of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), joined numerous elected officials and economic development partners from across Eastern Ontario during the announcement held Monday in the County of Hastings’ Council Chambers. With Eastern Ontario being the first region in Ontario to undertake this endeavour as part of the Province’s regional economic development planning process, the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth (MEDG) is providing the funding and any required project support.

The EOLC consists of five major partners that together represent the various sectors across the region: the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus, the Eastern Ontario Regional Network, the Ontario East Economic Development Commission, and Community Futures Ontario East. The partnership was launched in 2015 following the release of the initial regional Strategy, designed to tackle issues regarding the economic performance of the region and pursue opportunities to maintain and enhance its economic prosperity.

This funding will advance the EOLC’s ongoing work, which began in 2016 with the creation of three working groups. These groups are responsible for implementation planning and priority setting, while engaging a broad cross-section of public and private sector stakeholders. They represent the three pillars of the Strategy, being: Workforce Development and Deployment; Technology Integration and Innovation; and Integrated, Intelligent Transportation Systems.

“The EOLC is a unique organization in Ontario, founded on the principle of promoting regional economic development in collaboration with the many municipalities and stakeholders across Eastern Ontario, which represents about 1.2 million residents,” stated EOLC Co-Chair Leslie O’Shaughnessy, Mayor of the City of Cornwall. “We thank the Province and Minister Leal for recognizing the EOLC’s work and providing funds to move forward in such a positive manner.”

The refresh of the 10-year Eastern Ontario Economic Development Strategy will reflect recent economic considerations and incorporate the EOLC’s existing regional work, while translating broad action steps into specific, prioritized projects to fulfill the 10-year vision. One major outcome is the creation of a comprehensive implementation plan, which will guide the EOLC’s work through 2024 and provide project development funding to the three working groups.

“As with any project of this magnitude, it is essential that the EOLC undertake a review and refresh of the existing Strategy, including the collection and inclusion of relevant data, reports, and studies that have emerged since the release of the first version in 2014,” added Co-Chair John Fenik, Warden of the County of Lanark. “Once the Strategy is implemented, our region’s inclusive and collaborative economic development model will become a model for others.”

Request for Applications: EOLC Commuter Transportation Services Pilot Projects

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 22:00:00 GMT

Eastern Ontario, January 14, 2021 – The Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC) wishes to advise that the Request for Applications (RFA) process is now open for funding support for Commuter Transportation Services Pilot Projects.

Please review the content of the attachments carefully and note the timelines and the template for completion of the application incorporated into this document. Both a PDF version and a Word version are available, for use in completing an application if desired.

This information may be circulated to other parties interested in the Commuter Strategy project but who may not have come to the EOLC's attention through the Expression of Interest process undertaken in the fall of 2021.

EOLC Quarterly Update for Winter 2020

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 16:15:00 GMT

This update is part of a series regarding the recent activities and advocacy of the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC). The intended audience includes board members, municipal councils, and staff located within Eastern Ontario, as well as any members of the EOLC’s five partner organizations.

To read the latest update from the Winter 2020 season, please click here.

EOLC Quarterly Update for Fall/Winter 2018-19

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 01:00:00 GMT

To read the latest update from the Fall/Winter 2018-19, please click here.

EOLC Presents at Ontario East Municipal Conference

Tue, 18 Sep 2018 00:15:00 GMT

On September 13, during the annual Ontario East Municipal Conference (OEMC), the EOLC hosted a one-hour presentation to an engaged audience of more than 60 participants. The purpose of the presentation was to provide a brief overview of the EOLC’s history and its recent accomplishments, in addition to a complete update on the progress of the 2018-2019 Strategy Refresh Project.

Specifically, it was highlighted that the EOLC has become a model for the Province of Ontario, both through its previous work on the Economic Development Strategy and its ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Some of the initial findings of the Strategy Refresh were also presented, including data on labour force, socio-economic trends, community issues, employment, and business.

The presentation can be viewed online by clicking here.