City chiefs pitch joint economic development plan for all of region

Paige Desmond, Record staff

WATERLOO REGION — In the next two months, city officials will consider an unprecedented move — working together on economic development and a strategy for industrial land.

To do so, they will have to get over their trust issues.

“There’s a lack of trust in the region,” said Lee Parsons of Malone Given Parsons Limited, the consultant hired to complete an assessment of economic development here.

“There’s a lack of shared consensus on how to proceed.”

At an all-council meeting Thursday that brought together local city, township and Region of Waterloo politicians, a plan was unveiled that would see the creation of a regional office of economic policy, an employment land strategy and economic development strategy. More here.