Editor's note. Mr. Rennick writes in response to the BayToday article.Burton out as Invest North Bay board restructures
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The recent shakeup of the board of Invest North Bay does nothing to improve its chances to provide any increase in new business. The fact that Mayor McDonald was not available to the press after the meeting is telling.
The entire idea that new businesses will help lower the city tax levy in any way and assist taxpayers is a deceitful promise. Coupled with the fact that Invest North Bay directors have never produced any concrete plans to actually attract new business ensures this continuing charade.
The recently announced “Growth Community Incentive Program” will do as much good and soon be on the shelf along with the “2018 -2023 Economic Development Strategy” introduced by the corporation a couple of years ago.
The guiding principles of Invest North Bay include the statement: "While working in a business environment and at arm’s-length to the City, the Corporation will articulate transparency, accountability and responsibility."
An arm’s-length relationship is between two parties who are unrelated or strangers.
The corporation is owned by the City and its taxpayers.
The day to day operations of the corporation are handled by the staff of the City’s Economic Development department. The new board includes three council members including the Mayor and one senior city employee. The entire budget of the corporation is supplied by the City.
To suggest that the City and Invest North Bay operate at arm’s-length is laughable. The entire statement is nothing more than self-important jargon but it speaks to the level of expertise and how confident taxpayers can be in the abilities of the people involved in its operation.
Councillor Tignanelli sings the praises of those volunteers that have served on the board. The issue is not those persons who volunteered their time in what turned out to be a total waste. The issue is the $5 million plus spent since 2016 by Invest North Bay and the City Economic Development department without a single demonstrable benefit.
His statement that other cities have economic departments would only be supportive if they are in any way successful. I doubt that Councillor Tignanelli is aware of the results or lack thereof of the efforts of other municipalities and this attempt to support Invest North Bay is likely without any basis in fact.
Don Rennick, North Bay
