Build To Minister

Mayor Chris Friel ended his annual address for 2011 by stating the obvious– hes happy to be back in the job after his seven-year absence.

Friel read from point-form notes to a packed council chambers Monday night that included four previous Brantford mayors, MP Phil McColeman and members of the Friel family. He kept his remarks lighthearted, focused on what he sees as the positive and not dwelling on the negatives.

A theme running through his remarks was the need for members of council and council as a whole to become champions for the city as it works to build better relationships with its neighbours in Six Nations and the County of Brant.

For economic development to be successful, we need to resolve the situation with Six Nations– theres no way to pretend thats not a factor, Friel said. As council, its our responsibility, our role to go forward with our partners, our neighbours to find solutions.

Some of that work is already underway, with city council having agreed to a tri-council meeting with the County of Brant and the Six Nations elected council in the new year. Its also working to meet with the hereditary chiefs, in an attempt to open up the lines of communication and find local solutions that will allow for development to benefit all communities.

Theres no purpose served in fighting, in protesting, and seeking ways to divide us, Friel said. For us to be 21st century city, we must clear the way to have positive working relationships with Six Nations. We must work together to find local solutions then go to the federal and provincial governments for support. This council, with goodwill, working with community members as a whole, can break through that morass.

He also, perhaps brazenly, stated the city is not in a recession, though it hasnt avoided the impact of obal downturns in the economy. He pointed to how Bell Mobility is weeks away from its first job fairs to fill the call centre its opening in Market Square, and to Massillys recent announcement that its moving its operations and 70 positions from the Greater Toronto Area to Brantford.

Its imperative to turn our community, our processes, planning, economic development… towards being as business-friendly as they can within the rules were required to follow, Friel said. We need to be in a position with council in moving forward and making those decisions.

Other themes from the speech included efforts to brand Brantford as the place to live and the citys increasing prominence as the template for successful partnerships with post-secondary institutions. These are part of building the city that is left behind for others, Friel said.

We could not live in a better place. Its beautiful, the environment is wonderful. Its so well-removed from Toronto they dont know were here, which makes life better for all of us, Friel said. We have a long and rich history of coming together and building for the future.

hrodrigues@theexpositor.com twitter.com/EXPHugo