Cochrane - Reply to Business Initiative - March 14, 2008

To: Town of Cochrane

Mayor: Lawrence Martin
Business Representative: Terry Vachon
Copies to: Town Coucillors:
Donald Genier,
Jane Skidmore Fox,
Robert Hutchinson,
Jean-Paul Lajeunesse,
Lisa Girard,
Gilles Chartrand

Thank you very much for the phone call. It was very appreciated.

As usual, a normal bi-weekly pastime of mine is to take a long walk along the inter-coastal waterway between Clearwater and Dunedin ( Blue Jay land ), Florida.

Today after your call, I had time to persue ( in my thoughts ) of what I may have said during a presentation to members of your town.

1. Important to note that I am not the first to bring this subject up. Therefore why has it failed before. Is the commitment there to have it addressed. If not, it is best to be forgotten as its` success depends wholly on citizens in the area and those that can see a benefit ( best to publicize what it can do for Ontario as a whole ).

2. Your current elected political representatives must have the desire to go forward. Sometimes when they meet others their perspective changes. If they don't have that desire, then it is up to your constituents to change their perspective or get rid of them. Remember that they can address the Provincial or Federal legislatures.

3. Media is critical for support. If the media of your town is not on board, then the chances of any success is minimal.
If it is not, get them on board, or tell them where to go. This goes for the supposedly National chains such as the Toronto Star or Globe & Mail. If they won't participate in helping Northern Ontario achieve some economic independence, then hold a town bonfire with their products, and invite the competition. This is so critical, as without them you cannot succeed.

4. A past successful role in identifying the publication of important issues was the use of the internet by individuals in the Thunder Bay region. Here they used contacts wherever, to publicize the Sleeping Giant in Lake Superior. Voted number 1 of all others indicating a great natural resource throughout Canada. Although not selected by individuals making the final decision, it did bring the publicity to a region that was lacking.

Only some thoughts, but wish you the best of success.

John Halonen


From: john_halonen@hotmail.com
To: Terry.Vachon@town.cochrane.on.ca
Subject: James Bay as an Ocean Port
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008 17:31:58 -0500

During the past few months I have contacted all of our elected members of the Ontario Legislature.
Some success has been accomplished, but for this to have a positive effect for James Bay and the town of Cochrane it is imperative that we all continue to push our politicians in Ontario to provide for their citizens.
The possibility of James Bay having an Ocean Port has great economic benefit to Cochrane and really all of Ontario. Cochrane is a major hub on the rail line to James Bay and can be a stepping stone to the west.