From left: Chair of the Quinte Economic Development Commission Ross Rae and Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison, February 21, 2017 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
A suggestion that the Quinte Economic Development Commission should expand to include Prince Edward County has been met with a cautious response.
The mayor of Quinte West told a meeting of the board on Tuesday that the QEDC should expand to include Prince Edward County.
Mayor Jim Harrison told the board the County is losing out on federal and provincial money by not belonging.
Harrison says recent statistics show Belleville and Quinte West are growing but the county is losing population.
Harrison says it could mean more people working.
Belleville Mayor Taso Christopher agreed. He said there are “no borders, no boundaries.”
Christopher said it’s about the funding, “We should get rid of politics, we’re neighbours, we stay stronger when we stay together.”
Right now, Belleville, Quinte West and Brighton are the only members of QEDC.
Some Commission members were more cautious.
Ted Reid called for a staff report to show the advantages and disadvantages of the idea, and the board agreed.
