How Does a Small Town Thrive?

Bracebridge is in the heart of Muskoka. It is the geographical center of Muskoka.

And it is not dissimilar to any other small town in Ontario or you can go as far as Canada. We need people to work in jobs that are sitting vacant in our region. From health-care to tourism to construction and all of the smaller businesses that support these major sectors, the refrain remains the same. We can’t find people to work with us. Businesses close when the proprietor can no longer sustain it by themselves.

And it all comes back to the simple fact that the supply of attainable housing is sadly lacking. One million dollars is not attainable in a piece of Ontario that is seen for its lakes and those that can afford to live on them but remains beyond the reach of too many people.

The real guts of the issue is housing the people who work in the industries that support this life-style for those who live here and who visit here. There is no sector that is not impacted by this shortage of attainable housing – here and throughout the province.

We often refer to a housing crisis. I like to think of it as a fire – someone has to develop the 9” fire hose to douse it. And the levels of government need to work closely with this holder of the firehose to get it opened up and onto the fire as quickly as possible.

Tick tock – the clock moves slowly…..maybe too slowly…..