The MPP who represents North Hastings is trying to help municipalities work together more often and share resources.
Hastings-Lennox & Addington’s Ric Bresee says more collaboration can address a labour shortage. He says it can also improve services and save tax dollars.
Bresee hosted a meeting for leaders from communities north of Highway 7 on Feb. 9 – and said it was productive.
“I know there’s been a tremendous labour shortage with things like chief building officials, and fire chiefs and even CAOs and treasurers,” he says. “There’s possibilities of joint I.T. purchases, there’s possibility of shared services. I wanted to open the floor, open the platform for them to talk about doing more of those type of things.”
“In some cases, it’s not a matter of money, but a matter of people available to do these things. We know we have labour shortages in some particular skills sets. In some cases, it just makes more sense to do things jointly. So, overall, it’s about having that conversation, talking to each other, In an open environment.”
Bresee says he felt it was important to introduce leaders to each other, as many are in new roles. He says the next steps in the process are “up to them.”