Leamington council hopefuls tour greenhouse, look to 'mend relationship' between residents and growers
During the 2022 municipal election, different communities are focused on different issues.
In Leamington and Kingsville, one of the big ones is the rapidly growing greenhouse sector.
From lighting bylaws to water supply, greenhouse odour, zoning, housing, temporary foreign workers and red tape, municipally elected officials play a key role in regulating the local greenhouse sector.
“I would say it's an election discussion,” said Aaron Coristine, the manager of science, government relations and innovation at the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG). “I would say that certainly there are numerous areas of opportunity.”
On Thursday, Leamington’s Under Sun Acres opened its doors to council and mayoral hopefuls in Leamington.
“Going into the election, let's put our best foot forward, let's connect,” said Coristine. “We're here. We're willing partners. We're at the table, we always will be and we want the same thing. And that’s success for the community.”
Every candidate on the ballot was invited, with about a dozen taking the opportunity to tour the facility, ask questions and get answers about how greenhouses operate and learn more about the challenges they face.
“I think there's a lot of misunderstandings within the community at large about what's happening in this sector and how it operates,” said Derek Friesen, a Leamington council candidate who went on the tour. “I would like to help bring all parties to the table and just have a better dialogue on both sides.”
The greenhouse vegetable industry contributed $1.9 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2021, employing more than 10,000 people and providing more than 27,000 spin-off jobs in the community, according to the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers.
Dave Metcalfe, also a Leamington council candidate, said he’d like to see council find common sense solutions to clear away red tape.
“The economic impact this industry has on this community,” Metcalfe said. “That's really important.”
It’s also a highly regulated industry, the results of which often turning into community flashpoints.
The most recent example is the “Dark Skies Provision,” where night-time grow lighting bylaws were put in place by the town in an effort to reduce evening light pollution while also allowing growers to maximize output.
But some residents still aren’t satisfied and some growers remain equally frustrated with growing amounts of red tape.
Jimmy Simoni is a retired farmer who is running for mayor against incumbent Hilda MacDonald and challenger Cris Biron. Simoni also went on Thursday’s tour and says he’s sympathetic to growers’ concerns.
“There's a severe disconnect between residents and community of Leamington and the greenhouse farmers and I want to mend that connection back again,” Simoni said.
Councillors touring this facility got a behind the scenes peek at new innovations and technologies that allow local operators to compete on the world stage and contribute to the municipality’s energy generation.
“It's that connecting is the collaborating and communicating with the administration of the town with the council and the mayor of the town, again to address concerns before they become a problem,” Coristine said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.
Cherry blossoms blooming in Canada: Here's what to know
There is a swaying sea of colour in some cities across Canada, and it's a sure sign of spring: cherry blossoms are in bloom.