SUMMER FUN — Kailey Strickland bounces high in the blow-up castle at the carnival site in Port aux Basques set up Thomas Amusements last week at the site of the former transfer shed. Natalie Musseau photo
Slowly but surely Signs of economic growth all around
MANDY RYAN The Gulf News
Indicators of the Port aux Basques economy are showing positive signs.
Summer tourism traffic is up, more homes are being constructed, and as of Friday, there were only eight homes listed for sale in Port aux Basques on the real estate Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
Traffic numbers are showing an increase at Marine Atlantic. Based on statistics from Jan. 1 to Aug. 19, passengers are up by 3 per cent over the same period in 2006. Passenger vehicles are also up by 5 per cent over the same time last year.
Construction is also going to start this fall on a second ferry dock for the Crown Corporation with a slow down in the winter and pick up in the spring until completion.
A new Foodland grocery store will open before Christmas. The existing Price Choppers will also close at the time, but Foodland will employ more people as compared to Price Choppers.
New company, Eastern Scenic Elements, recently set up in Grand Bay West hiring local people and extra money continues to flow ‘back home’ to families from local people who are earning good wages in Western Canada.
Local leaders believe the signs point to a change in the economy for the better.
With the recent closure of the SeaFreez Foods Ltd. fish plant still in the forefront of his mind, Port aux Basques Mayor Brian Button is cautiously optimistic.
“I don’t really think we’ve turned the corner, but at least we can see it’s all not dark, it’s not all gloomy.”
The town continues to receive several requests for land in the new Grand Bay West subdivision. All of the lots on Tavenor Drive are sold and of the 24 lots available on Smallwood Drive (at $19,950 per lot), six are sold with a lot more interest coming from different directions. Several families in and around of Port aux Basques are inquiring, as well as people who originally from the town but currently living outside the province.
“We have a lot of interest into our lots, with people wanting us to expand our lots and wanting to buy them, and there are people looking to go into different areas, outside of Smallwood and Tavenor Drive,” said Mayor Button.
Another indicator, said the mayor, is the construction labour market. He said contractors say they can’t find enough trades people to work for them, meaning some projects are being put behind.
“It’s bad for the people who are waiting, but it’s good for those people who are considering retraining, like the displaced plant workers who are trying to decide what to do,” said Mayor Button.
Like most other municipal leaders in the province, Mayor Button said the Hebron Memorandum of Understanding is positive for the province and may possibly have some positive impact on people in his area.
“As for our people out west working on oil fields, if they can do it on land, they should be able to do if off shore. So I see nothing but positive coming out of that.”
Terry Anderson, president of the Port aux Basques and Area Chamber of Commerce, said his members are saying business has been good this summer with traffic up, hotel bookings up and more people spending more money. The trend is the same at his store, Irivng Mainway.
“The ferries are loaded and it’s been like it all summer. I’ve seen more traffic from the boats than ever before,” said Mr. Anderson.
Mr. Anderson echoed the mayor’s comments about the lack of construction workers in the area.
“There’s a great demand and a great opportunity for someone to start up (a new business) if they are interested,” said Mr. Anderson, adding if anyone needs help doing so, to contact the chamber office for guidance.
Finding and retaining employees to work in the service industry is continuing to be difficult with many aging ‘help wanted’ signs posted around store fronts.
“My advise is for owners and managers to treat employees good, because finding them is getting harder and harder all the time,” said Mr. Anderson.
