To be, or not to be, is usually the question – but not here.
When it comes to tourism region designations, the question is if Erin is in RTO4 or RTO6 – or both.
Current provincial boundaries place Erin in Regional Tourism Organization 4, but unless that group responds to repeated requests to come to council, Erin is ready to jump ship.
Information from the Ministry of Tourism website defines RTO4 as Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington County. The designated RTO6 region is defined as York, Durham and Hills of Headwaters. A change to tourism districts came about last year under a ministry order.
On Nov. 15, Erin councillors spoke to representatives of the Hills of the Headwaters, who were seeking renewal of the Erin’s municipal service agreement with that group.
Although promoting the Hills of the Headwaters as a smaller group of Erin, Caledon and Dufferin County, the RTO6 region actually straddles the north end of the Greater Toronto Area towards the eastern end of Lake Simcoe and Port Perry and west of Toronto – including communities such as Aurora, Newmarket, Vaughn, Richmond Hill, Pickering, Ajax, Oshawa, Uxbridge and Bowmanville.
A map on the ministry website clearly excludes Erin from that group.
Yet Hills of the Headwaters executive director Michele Harris, board chairman Ron Munro and vice chairman Jo Fillery (the Erin BIA liaison) came to council to plead their case.
“We’re here because of our long-standing relationship with the town … as your tourism service provider,” said Harris.
Harris added the municipal service agreement with its member municipalities ends Dec. 31 and the group wants to renew the agreements until 2015. Erin’s contribution would be $15,326 (a 3.5% increase over 2011).
“The reality is that we have a very strong relationship with the town and its tourism operators.”
She said the reasons Erin joined Hills of the Headwaters and took an active role haven’t changed. “We’re based on the needs of the visitors – who don’t recognize municipal boundaries.”
At the time, the connection of Erin with Dufferin County and the Town of Caledon made sense as a self-defined region, Harris said.
She said council needs to look at “the rather arbitrary line drawn by the province which has sectioned off Erin from the rest of the Hills of the Headwaters area.”
Harris said, “Erin will need to make a decision as to how tourism is best served, ” and cited a letter from the Century Church Theatre in support of the Hills of the Headwater.
The Erin village BIA feels the same way. A letter signed by Erin merchants stated concerns with council’s hesitation in renewing its relationship with the Hills of the Headwaters and said that decision would impact every tourism-based business in Erin.
Munro concluded council could to do nothing, which he believes might alienate a number of constituents in the community – including the BIA.
“You would need to consider the savings of the [membership fee] versus the economic impact.”
Munro said, “If you really want to join RTO4, you would have to create your own destination marketing organization.”
Even then, Munro contends Erin would be competing against venues such as Stratford and St. Jacobs – which are “if not world class – pretty high up.”
He suggested a third option is to sign the Hills of the Headwaters agreement – and continue that relationship. Erin’s contribution is roughly 9% raised through the Hills of the Headwaters municipal service agreement.
Councillor Barb Tocher suggested there is a fourth option.
First, Tocher said, as she has at previous council meetings, “We are not switching to RTO4 – we are in RTO4 [Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington County].”
Munro argued, “Technically, no.”
“Technically, yes,” Tocher replied.
While Erin is located in the Hills of the Headwaters and has paid fees to that group – Erin is not part of RTO6, she said. “I think that is where the confusion is coming up.”
She asked why the town could not just continue its membership with Hills of the Headwaters.
“Our understanding from the province is that we are more than welcome to continue that participation – but not necessarily in RTO6 [the northern GTA].”
Mayor Lou Maieron said Tocher wants “to have her cake and eat it too.”
Councillors appeared more than willing to continue its financial support of Hills of the Headwaters – but to remain within RTO4.
Representatives of Hills of Headwaters doubt that could happen. Tocher is concerned Hills of the Headwaters only represented the portion of Erin in the Credit Valley watershed and not that of the Grand River.
A counterargument was made the region covers the headwaters of more than one watershed.
Councillor John Brennan suspected the delegation “was preaching to the converted.” He said the town has had a great relationship with the organization in the past, and has no complaints.
“If allowed to make a choice, we would choose to stay where we were. But thus far, I’ve only seen one letter from the province … and the way I read it, it did not indicate we had a choice.”
What the town does not seem to be able to obtain is a response from RTO4 representatives who have been requested on more than one occasion to come to Erin council.
He does not want a situation where the town carries on supporting Hills of the Headwaters then gets presented with a huge bill from the RTO4 later on.
Council heard the municipal service agreement is not the same as membership in a tourism region.
Tocher again asked why Erin could not just remain in RTO4 and pay a fee to be included with Hills of the Headwaters.
Town manager Lisa Hass said the Ministry of Tourism, had no concerns about Erin taking part in Hills of the Headwaters while remaining in RTO4.
Much of council’s frustration is a lack of response from the organization that officially represents Erin.
Councillor Josie Wintersinger said Erin has tried on numerous occasions to get someone from that group to clarify the situation.
“But we belong to Wellington County. I know you’re sitting there and saying that Wellington County has done nothing for us – and you’re absolutely right.
“They put out one brochure listing. But by the same token, we need to get a proper answer from them first to make our move.”
She did not want to see Erin jump from one group and be saddled with bills for something that does not represent it.
Councillor Deb Callaghan said if council is satisfied with RTO6 and not getting any response from RTO4, council can write a letter asking to switch regions, and there’s no cost.
“I don’t understand why we’re not sending this letter to be with RTO6.”
Tocher still wants to hear from RTO4.
Mayor Lou Maieron, too, has concerns.
“This is the County of Wellington; the thumb is the Town of Erin; we always stick out.”
He cited ambulance service as one example of the town being out on its own. “Perhaps at one point we should have been part of Halton or Peel – but we’re not.”
Maieron said Wellington is working on development of a county-wide economic development committee, and tourism is part of that. He added the warden is hoping to make economic development a committee of Wellington County council in the next term.
Maieron, too, saw the sense of Tocher’s suggestion of working with Hills of the Headwaters and staying in RTO4 with the rest of Wellington.
Councillor John Brennan moved council write to the Ministry of Tourism and RTO4 “stating that it is our intent to opt out of RTO4 as of Dec. 31, 2011 unless it hears objections from that group. Maybe that will get them moving. We’ve been unsuccessful in getting them to come talk to us.”
Prior to a decision, council passed a motion to receive the Hills of the Headwaters delegation and to send that request to Erin’s 2012 budget discussions.
An amendment by Tocher was to tell the ministry that on numerous occasions, Erin has attempted to get RTO4 representatives to council.
Tocher said, “I’m asking the Ministry of Tourism to intervene and get RTO4 to the table.”
Council also passed a motion that Erin will move to opt out of RTO4 if it does not here from that group by Dec. 31.
Brennan said, “I want them to get off of whatever they are sitting on and say ‘Yes you can or no, you can’t’.”
Clerk Kathryn Ironmonger said that could be included in the letter.
Maieron said council is looking for clear delineation. He had concern with the implication of the town issuing an ultimatum. Instead, he asked if council could simply put a deadline on getting the clarification.
Wintersinger believes some ultimatum is needed to get an answer.
Council passed Brennan’s resolution in a 3-2 vote.
