We need a strong supporter for the technology sector in Northwestern Ontario. Having a good understanding of how business, academic organizations, government and industry must work together in partnerships to foster the entrepreneurial opportunities is key to job creation and exports.
Ken Boshcoff supported the sector but he really didn't appear to understand it to the level require for growth of the industry. The result was the decay of regional focus and of service to its customer base. Groups like the IT task force have failed to counter the slide due to the lack of leadership and direction. The 807-Network, a great initiative, now swallowed up and diffused ... Why? A lack of vision and understanding possibly? On the other hand, Thunder Bay telephone has been growing substancially and is becomming a regional provider.
As high paid consultants enter Thunder Bay from abroad investment dollars leave. We talk of the pros and cons of "not invented here" thinking, better solutions are coming from elsewhere. We think by getting a better tool we can build a better product thus staying competitive. Reality is that the industrial revolution wasn't about getting better tools, it was about a better trained, more experienced workforce.
So what are we doing? We are seriously under funding and under resourcing local development projects then when we get serious, we give away the house to somebody from somewhere else. To add insult to injury, the one or two people that worked with that external consultant, now leave because they have a product to sell. It is not a tangible product they can sell from TBay unlike what the local original project would have created, what is left is only that they can sell themselves.
Brain Drain - Everyone should take a critical look at this years candidates and to a larger extent their own practices. Our regions leadership (municipal, corporate, business, and educational) need to have what it takes to turn the tide on brain drain. This year we need a serious culture change, it's not enough just to stay out of trouble.
This Author thinks the Tech Sector and Partnerships are critical to our regions future.
