Talk of Closing Food Banks Becomes Absolute Nonsense!
Mayor Joe Fontana's "Job's Summit" held on Friday August 13th was a hopeful sign for Londoners who are unemployed or underemployed. It's also a sign of hope for those juggling two or three part-time jobs and family responsibilities.
Mayor Joe and those he assembled may not have the answers today, but his leadership showed that he could assemble those in Leadership in London in short order to examine the problem closely.
I first saw Joe Fontana when he was a Cabinet Minister in the Chretien Government and Martin Governments in the early part of the last decade. He had the same energy and enthusiasm on every issue that he tackled.
He did some really good work on housing and homelessness in 2004-2005. Results came, very slowly, but new housing was built through federal-provincial-municipal partnerships. He got the job done.
Unemployment and Underployment (when full-time employment can't be found) hits every age bracket in different ways. Graduates can't pay back student loans. Fifty and sixty somethings can't plan for retirement as they battle second and third mortgages. Middle age persons fight to keep up with credit card payments that carry 20% interest rates.
As if this wasn't enough, the nature of work keeps changing at a pace never seen before. Software, hardware and other technology became obsolete in 3 to 5 years requiring frequent and expensive upgrading at college and university.
Older workers battle with younger workers for entry level jobs even though their bodies are showing signs of age.
I admire Mayor Joe for making Jobs a Priority. He is listening to many experts in his search for answers. The grunt work still belongs to the job seeker who combs the job sites and keeps going to interviews.
It is however nice to know that the Mayor of London does seem to get the idea that more jobs means a better London for everyone. More jobs means more property taxes and more money to help those in need and more money to provide City services.
And lest you feel secure and smug in your full-time job right now, take a look in the newspapers at the Fram auto parts plant in Stratford or the St. Thomas Ford plant which are both on the verge of closing. The Federal Government and Ontario Government are both handing out pink slips. Could the City of London be far behind?
In my life I have lived through 3 severe recessions. Even when recovery comes, the damage done is often permanent, especially to families who have relocated for work.
The Stratford plant gave little warning. We are living in an economy with few guarantees, so keep your skills sharp and your resume and references current. Turbulent economic waters shift direction everyday with little warning.
