Stouffville mayor hopes to lure trade centre in China

Yorkregion.com
June 3, 2014
By Jim Mason

A one million-square-foot trade centre may come to Whitchurch-Stouffville.

As part of a GTA delegation, Mayor Wayne Emmerson leaves for China today to take part in a weeklong trade mission.

“It’s not really a big trade mission, but it will open the door,” Emmerson said.

The delegation will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Yiwu, where a 3.6 million-square-foot wholesale trade market is located.

“When mayors come over, they know there’s a wiliness to work with them."
The Yiwu Futian Market has more than 50,000 daily visitors. Market goods, which include everything from toys to cosmetics, and sports equipment to sewing thread, are sold to more than 140 countries, according to its website.

Emmerson said the Chinese want to construct a one million-square-foot facility. The perfect place for it in Whitchurch-Stouffville, he said, is the 100-acre piece of vacant land on the northeast corner of Hoover Park Drive and Hwy. 48, across from Boston Pizza. It is also correctly zoned for this type of use.

Potential space could also be found in the vacated Southwire building, he said.

If the trade centre were to be located in Stouffville, the real boon would be in tax assessment dollars, according to Emmerson.

While it will need to be staffed, he said it was a “tough call” on just how many people would be needed.

“If it is what I think it is, it’s a great fit for our community,” Emmerson said.

He acknowledged residents might question why an out-going mayor is participating in an overseas mission. But he said the timing is good because it’s an election year and he’s not running.

“When mayors come over, they know there’s a wiliness to work with them,” said Emmerson, who hopes to become chair of York Region this fall.

If the trip is successful, it will be up to the next council to continue to implement what gets agreed upon, he said.

The Chinese, according to Emmerson, who said he paid for his and his wife’s business class tickets out of pocket, are paying for the majority of the trip. But he may expense the value of a coach seat.

“The taxpayers will be out the most $1,500 if I do put it in,” he said.

This is not the first time Emmerson has gone to China on behalf of the town.

He did, with other mayors and business leaders, about 15 or 20 years ago as part of a federal trade mission.