Investing in Our Future

"We have a crisis.

We have a major crisis in Muskoka: we desperately need to bring in younger people and families to keep our community alive, but I have to ask—where are they going to work?

Right now, the big issue is that most of our jobs are seasonal, part-time, and low-paying. A large portion of our workforce only works part of the year. At the same time, we've seen a massive influx of wealth into the region. This outside money has driven up the cost of everyday items, groceries, and housing, but none of that extra money is trickling down to the local workers who build the cottages or serve the food.

The math simply does not add up for locals. The median wage in Muskoka is between $36,730 and $43,200 a year—which is right above the poverty line. Meanwhile, it takes at least $22.20 an hour just to afford the basics like food, rent, and gas. Because wages have not kept up with housing or rental costs, over 50% of the people living here cannot earn enough money to meet the actual cost of living.

To fix this, we need to actively invite clean manufacturing into our town. By attracting eco-friendly assembly, green technology, and advanced workshops, our economy won't need to rely on tourism alone. These kinds of businesses provide stable, full-time employment that operates twelve months a year, giving our residents the reliable income they need to stay here. By bringing in these stable, year-round careers, we also take a massive burden off our low-income and subsidized housing programs because workers will finally earn enough to afford their own homes.

We cannot just be a summer playground for the rich. We need permanent, year-round jobs, not seasonal band-aids. Without stable careers and housing that regular people can afford, our young families will keep moving away, and our community will run out of workers.

I suggest we form a task force dedicated to recruiting clean manufacturing.

Let's work together."