January 5, 2011
AECL to remain county
priority
by Terry Myers
The future of Atomic Energy of Canada and the Chalk River Labs will
continue to be one of the top priorities for Renfrew County in 2011.
Petawawa Mayor Bob Sweet was acclaimed as county warden in the week
leading up to Christmas.
The warden is chosen from among the county's 17 mayors and reeves and
serves as head of Renfrew County council.
This will be Sweet's fourth term as county warden, having served three
previous one-year terms in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
In his inaugural address, Sweet said 2010 leaves behind “some of the
most difficult financial times that we have seen in many generations.”
“As we look towards 2011, I think we should look with renewed optimism
for what the future holds.”
Among the “immediate issues” the county will face this year, Sweet
named the need to continue to invest in infrastructure and to work with
the federal government to continue the Eastern Ontario Development
Program.
“Not only is this a vital investment in our regional economic
development, but it allows our local communities to develop businesses
and projects that are extremely important for Eastern Ontario and in
particular Renfrew County,” he said.
“Our needs are different than the rest of the province, and this fund
allows our local communities to invest in their particular projects
that best showcase their needs.”
With the uncertainty around the future of the Ottawa Valley rail line
through the county, expansion of Highway 17 is “critical and we will
continue to lobby for the extension of Highway 417 beyond Arnprior,”
Sweet said.
“Many of us have driven to Arnprior and seen firsthand the dramatic
economic impact the twinning of the highway has one those communities
around Arnprior and McNab Braeside.
“We must be more resilient than ever to work with the provincial and
federal levels of government to maintain the momentum of twinning
Highway 17 up to Renfrew and all the way up the Ottawa Valley.”
One of the major issues of the year will be a decision on “one of our
major employers, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited,” Sweet said.
“I think we all realize just how vital this facility is to all of
Renfrew County,” he said.
“With over 2,500 employees at AECL, many communities all through the
county have some employees that reside within their borders.
“With millions of dollars generated in our county from AECL, we must do
all we can to not only maintain the presence of AECL in our county, but
we must be ready to help AECL grow and continue as the premier research
facility in the world.”
Sweet said the recent announcement of the contract to build hangars for
the new Chinook helicopters to be based at CFB Petawawa “has been
received as a major economic boost to the Upper Ottawa Valley and we
welcome that initiative.”
The county also welcomes the progress on the Eastern Ontario Broadband
Network, he said.
“For many years, the County of Renfrew and other members of the Eastern
Ontario Wardens' Caucus have been working towards connectivity for many
rural communities in Eastern Ontario,” Sweet said.
“We are much closer than we were 10 years ago.”
Sweet said the new broadband network will “help maintain and expand
economic opportunities for many regional businesses,” allowing
“business, households and institutions to communicate across vast
regions and help Eastern Ontario grow.”
The county will also continue to lobby for the recognition of the
Ottawa River as a Canadian heritage river.
“We have much to do, but we can do it - together,” Sweet said.
“We will make a difference and we will get the job done.”
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