On Friday, August 17th PC Leader Jaime Baillie joined me for a visit to New Ross. We first visited the New Ross Family Resource Centre where Diane Webber explained the services offered by the centre. The centre has become a focal point in the community providing important services that may not otherwise be available to residents of the New Ross area. Next we visited Sanders Supply where Dwight Sanders and Michael Keddy had invited some woodsmen, christmas tree growers and woodlot owners to talk to Jamie about the effect the closure of the Bowater Mersey Pulp & Paper operation has had on them. Jamie and I listened while they suggested short and long term ideas for protecting the forest industry. Jamie talked about the need to get wood moving again in the short term and the need to develop more value-added opportunities for our forest resources to provide long term economic stability to our rural communities. As well, he says the province must protect and diversify its woodlands.
Next we visited the New Ross Community Fair. New Ross native and South Shore-St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy kindly showed us around and introduced us to many residents. The sense of community at the fair is wonderful. Events like the Ox Pull and Double Horse Challenge speak to the strong links between the community and the farming and forestry that has been going on here for many generations.
