Dear Editor,

After seeing Owen Sound City Council defeat a proposal to bring a 4-day Poutine festival into the downtown of Owen Sound I cannot help but share my thoughts.

First, kudos to councillors Tamming, Thomas, and Koepke and Deputy Mayor O’Leary for supporting staff’s report and voting in favor of a downtown festival.

Given that the Municipal Act severely limits what a municipal council can do, it must be even more challenging when an actual opportunity to do something positive ends in failure, revealing the Sisyphean reality of this City Council.

Was it not just a month or two ago that Mayor Boddy expressed his frustration at the lack of growth in our community?

And yet he and some other councillors vote against bringing 5000+ people, most who will surely be carrying wallets, into the newly refurbished river district and downtown for 4 days.

To say those who voted against the proposal are short-sighted is being polite. In truth, they are literally fools in the rain.

Councillor Thomas clearly expressed the reality that there are more businesses (and experiences) in our downtown core and community at large than dining establishments.

If four days of a food festival is enough to put a restaurateur out of business, then they have bigger problems.

A festival of any type, at these numbers of visitors, is literally free professional marketing of your community at little-to-no expense to you.

Some visitors may discover much about our community they did not know before, whether they be our businesses, restaurants, waterfront, recreation or heritage.

The most inane argument for a no vote came from Councillor Greig, who dissented (in part) because he opposes poutine as an unhealthy food choice.

Apparently micro-managing the short-term food options of the constituents now falls under the protective purview of a municipal council.

Based on Greig’s logic I look forward to his motion to repeal business licenses for any dispensary of alcohol, tobacco, fast food…you get my drift.

I only wish I could see what P.J. O’Rourke would write about this council.

Repeatedly saying “no” isn’t going to get you anywhere near the growth you claim you desire, Owen Sound.

Respectfully,
David Johnstone
Sydenham Township