Businesses on the brink of ruin?

Promotions and improved communications aim to help those struggling during occupation

Karen Best - Chronicle Staff Writer
Dunville Chronicle
Local News - Wednesday, May 10, 2006 @ 05:00

[SISIS note: The following mainstream news article is provided for reference only, as an example of how mainstream media treats indigenous resistance to genocide. Mainstream media often presents biased and distorted information, lacking pertinent facts and/or context. Inclusion of this article on our site should not be considered an endorsement by SISIS.]

CALEDONIA - With a few businesses just weeks away from bankruptcy, help cannot come too soon for Caledonia. Some have seen sales drop 80 per cent.

Business promotion actions and improved communications are expected to be in place within 14 days, according to Haldimand County planning and economic development general manager Steve Miazga. This week he will use $100,000 in Ontario grants to hire companies to create promotion and communication strategies and to implement them. Business has dropped off in town because of native blockades set up on Argyle Street South, Caledonia’s main street, and on the Highway 6 Bypass.

Despite safe conditions in town and a high police presence, some visitors and out of town shoppers hesitate to come to town.

Miazga, who said promotion may include holding events, is welcoming any ideas to bolster the local community and to improve information flow. He can be reached at smiazga@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Reporting the grim discussions at a recent Caledonia Business Improvement Association (BIA) meeting, Coun. Craig Ashbaugh said most people do not realize how bad things really are. “The business community want something to hit the ground almost immediately,” he said.

Businesses on and near Greens Road are starving, reported Ashbaugh. Because police are stationed at the intersection of Greens and Argyle Street North (Highway 6), people think the road is closed but only the bypass is, he emphasized. The business community is becoming extremely agitated and it is urgent for the county to erect signs to direct customers to businesses in this sector, he added.

“We’re at a crisis stage,”added Coun. Buck Sloat.

Six Caledonia and Region Chamber of Commerce members and two BIA members will work with county and provincial representatives to implement and participate in business promotion. Miazga said the province supports quick action and only requires a report outlining on how the grants were spent.

Mayor Marie Trainer has heard about 25 to 50 per cent decreases in sales and 80 per cent in some cases. She encouraged Caledonia residents to support town businesses and other county residents to consider shopping in this town.

When asked about potential bankruptcy, Ashbaugh had no doubt that businesses will start to fail in the very near future. He wondered if officials have been too nice and accommodating to those who are blocking roads.