The following notes represent a record of the discussion held in Swan River on January 31, 2006. The final Creating Opportunities report reflects the input received at this and other consultations held throughout Manitoba.

Opportunities | Supports | Entrepreneurship

OPPORTUNITIES

A number of value-added opportunities exist in Manitoba.

What opportunities exist for value-added business in this area?

• Adding value to trees harvested from woodlots.

• Select harvest of particular hardwoods.

• Log buildings

• Non-timber forest products

• Specialty lumber products such as specialty cut from byproduct or small pieces.

• Processing of wood waste for energy production.

• Processing of oilseeds for bio-diesel, ppportunities for joint use of a plant for production from alternative sources.

• Regional school is here now but need alternate opportunities besides traditional agriculture and forestry.

• Training centre perhaps for firefighters or oil field workers.

• Limestone

• Tourism that takes advantage of the tremendous natural area.

• Camping and associated recreational activities.

• Eco-tourism

• Guided fishing and outfitters

• Photographic expeditions

• Birdwatching

• ATV and snowmobile trails

• Local training for trades such as carpentry, plumbing, mechanics.

• Partnership between Swan Valley and University College of the North (UCN).

• Flour mill

• Milling of oats

• Expansion of Valley Meats (elk, bison, fish processing).

• Sucker and rough fish processing perhaps for products not to be consumed by humans, such as fertilizer.

• Pet food business

• Vegetable production, perhaps in a greenhouse.

• Organic farming

• Processing of wild berries and fruits.

• Processing of wild rice

• Feedlots

• Hog production

• Livestock manure for gardens

• Organic livestock feed

• Ready-made soups

• Tim Hortons

• Fish and chip franchise

• Marketing food to northern communities.

• Development of intermodal facility at Churchill.

What is preventing the area from taking advantage of these opportunities?

• Facilities are expensive.

• Few incentives for starting a small business.

• Lack of encouragement

• Aging population

• Issues facing young farmers who are trying new opportunities are mainly related to marketing opportunities.

• Lack of succession planning in all types of business.

• Scholarships go to those leaving for university but not necessarily coming back.

• Need scholarships for small business opportunities.

• Need training opportunities that offer flexible schedules and sponsorship.

• Lack of mentors

• Lack of a trained workforce

• Lack of promotions

• Youth are leaving.

• Need something to attract people to return after they leave.

• Youth do not care about healthcare because they feel that they do not need it – their concern is jobs.

• Infrastructure needs to be developed to a level that supports business opportunities.

• Manitoba Hydro needs to provide three-phase power.

• Need access to natural gas.

• Need highspeed Internet

• Need to resolve border issues between Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

• Competition with neighbouring communities, such as Yorkton.

• Government policy has to work with people.

• Export regulations and requirements

• Packaging and labelling information

• Market information and opportunities

• Highway restrictions

• Acquiring permits for freshwater fish.

• Federal inspection of livestock and fish processing facilities.

• Creation of parks prevents exploration.

• Regulations related to employees such as employment insurance (EI), Canadian Pensions Plan (CPP), affect the credibility of business.

• Need good planning for hogs and wood waste.

• Need disposable income

• Lack of vision

• Lakes are not being marketed even though they are natural wonders of the area.

• Need Swan Valley promotional items.

• Remote location, associated freight and shipping costs.

• No commercial air service

SUPPORTS

Communities, industry and government can support value-added development in a number of ways.

What can the community and industry do to promote and support the development of value-added opportunities?

• Local government needs to support the local road network to ensure weight restrictions allow for movement of products.

• Government needs to work closely with local education to promote educational training required to keep young people here.

• Government has to ensure that young, established business people have the environment and knowledge to allow them to stay in rural Manitoba.

• Educational and industrial partnership to set up training for local industry needs, present and future.

• Business profiles to let locals know what is happening (better communication).

• Better publicity of government programs.

• Local businesses can support each other.

• Groups can meet to work together, build packages and co-operate in advertising.

• The entire valley needs to work together.

• Municipalities may need to offer incentives or rebates.

• Need model to draw and care for immigrants to the area.

• Abandoning or lowering road restrictions in the RM of Swan River.

• Sponsor training courses

• Scholarships for returning students, from government and community.

Which government activities would be the most effective in supporting value-added development?

• Eliminate cross-governmental barriers that exist and are potentially getting worse.

• One-stop shop for information.

• Have money allocated for results, not administration.

• Need to look at other working models and have all agencies set a plan.

• Support road infrastructure in the Duck and Porcupine Mountains and in rural municipalities.

• Hydro

• Drainage

• Find and establish marketing opportunities.

• Need trained, skilled labour force.

• More skills training courses at SVRSS.

• Vocational days at schools

• Promote apprenticeships for trades.

• Local training college

• Workshops and training, (ex: steps in building a business)

• Need knowledgeable people and resources.

• Recreation for all ages

• Offer incentives for mining opportunities and ensure companies do not hold off development opportunities.

• Create an environment for business so they want to come to valley’s north.

• Family businesses need more government support, such as programs to hire family members and tax deductions for education and travel to larger centres.

• Too many regulations with high fees, too many steps and difficult criteria.

• Need cell phones and Internet that work throughout the valley.

• Need financial support for new businesses with no track record.

• Need seed money, distributed fairly.

• Simplify access to venture capital.

• Need tax incentives and consistency in rebate system.

• Need to expand fields to provincial nominee program.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Entrepreneurship drives value-added development and innovation.

What specific efforts or programs are currently being pursued in this region to support entrepreneurial development?

• SVRSS offers business programs in autobody, electrical, welding and mechanics.

• MAFRI business development

• SVEC business start

• Manitoba Forestry Association (MFA) offers free service, assisting with non-traditional timber harvest, contracts with harvesters and education.

• Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) provides assistance to Métis people for training and support for job placement, gives training on the job.

• PCFDC

• Tax incentives from some municipalities.

• No business tax in RM of Minitonas.

• Town and RM of Minitonas co-operated on lagoon for business.

• Swan River water treatment has extra capacity.

• Rebates for mining exploration

• The Enterprise Center

How can entrepreneurial development be better supported?

• Government could deal with the present issue of wood and lumber production by small mills getting certification stamp.

• Financial institutions need to be willing to take higher risks with start-up businesses.

• Provide financial incentives for business start-ups.

• College courses within the region for specific entrepreneurial training.

• Community development corporation needs to be better known as far as presence and services.

• Need “easy” inventory of all services available and what is offered.

• Cost of production information for new and potential opportunities, such as bio-diesel and specialty crops.

• Financial, technical and tax support for pilot projects.

• Education on “taxes” required for each existing area, and prioritize where they would be best spent for long-term good of the area.

• Local education on what is needed to allow business ventures to establish and to survive in the area.

• Area leadership body to ensure leadership and vision for community development.

• Local planning district could support business.

• Environmental issues regarding the lagoon need to be addressed.

• Greater support for environmental issues.

• Better use of the port at Churchill.

• Entrepreneurship needs to improve all down the line, not just business owners, perhaps using Winkler as a model.

• Greater co-ordination between enterprise centres and government.

• Need to know more about programs and efforts.

• New generation co-ops

• Communication

• Investment attraction

• Business fair

• Insert in business paper

• Communication between government departments.

• Citizens enquiry for government program information.

• Local energy production, perhaps a wind farm.