London’s Job Summit PT 3: “We can dig a grave. Can we climb out?”

[“I can think of nothing finer than a three-wheeled scooter-mobile plant to occupy part of the soon to be closed Ford Talbotville plant on the outskirts of our city.” G. Harrison, Aug. 12]

On Friday, London’s Mayor Joe Fontana, local politicians, business leaders and interested parties participated in London’s job summit.

Ideas filled the air related to ways to stimulate the creation of good jobs for London, the city that is the current poster child for high unemployment in Canada. With Toronto at 8.3%, Montreal at 8 and Vancouver, Hamilton and Kitchener-Waterloo tied at 6.4%, London stands at the top of the heap with 9.1% unemployment.

According to yesterday’s issue of The London Free Press, here are but some of the excellent ideas concerning job creation that filled the air:

1. “politicians said times weren’t as gloomy as the high unemployment rate suggests”

(Surely then, jobs are just around the corner.)

2. “politicians pointed to developing along Hwys. 401 and 402 as a key to future plans”

(Jobs are guaranteed. Start lining up.)

3. “Mayor Joe Fontana let slip his ambition to serve a second term”

(Several really good jobs are likely going to be up for grabs. Comb your hair and brush your teeth asap for an interview.)

4. “Tory MP Ed Holder (London West) said his government had done its part...”

(Hundreds of full-time jobs are essentially on their way to London. Don’t forget to gargle.)

5. “Liberal MPPs Chris Bentley, Khalil Ramal and Deb Matthews lauded the province’s growth record...”

(Are you kidding me? You’re not hired yet?)

6. "The construction trades called for more construction, home builders for more homes and realtors for a streamlined process at city hall."

(I can hear them calling now. “We want to construct! We want to build! We want to sell!” Anyone got a bag of hammers and a box of nails? Anyone? Anyone?)

By now, many of the unemployed will realize their future is in good hands and they’ll be on a job site by Monday. Tuesday at the latest.

Though my idea about turning London into the building center of all things small wasn’t mentioned (re small homes, all items that go into small homes, small vehicles, etc.), I’m not discouraged. The jobs coming down the pike (Oh, they’re inevitable. “In five years, London will be the nation’s most prosperous city,” says London’s Mayor Joe Fontana according to the Free Press, Aug. 13) will surely support London in a sustainable fashion until they can’t anymore.


["Does anyone plan to build small fridges for small homes?"]

Though one observer said, “This meeting was 95% chest pounding and patting on the back” (KWM) I feel we should be thankful we have chests and backs. And now, thanks to the 135-minute long job summit, we also have jobs coming out of our ears.

Mystery jobs for now, yes. But jobs nonetheless.

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Please click here to read London’s Job Summit PT 2.
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