Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014
9. Leverage airport (esp. low fuel prices): The Cochrane Airport offers very low prices on
aviation fuel, and its landing fees are lower than those of nearby Timmins. Given the
amount of freight that travels north to the James and Hudson Bay coasts, it may be possible
to increase operating capacity at the airport as a source of economic development.
Threats
1. People shopping out of town: The proximity of Timmins, its shopping mall and big box
stores pulls Cochrane residents out of town for shopping, dining and visiting.
2. High fuel prices: Ontario fuel taxes and the nature of competition in the retail gasoline
industry have saddled Ontario communities with high gas prices, particularly in northern
Ontario. This has a discouraging effect on rubber tire tourism and snowmobiling in
particular.
3. Youth and senior outmigration: Nearly all communities in Northern Ontario experience
outmigration. The youth issue is especially hard to address, since smaller towns have no
post secondary institutions that might otherwise keep some young people in the
community. Once young people have left to go to college and university, they are exposed
to more opportunities and often decide not to return to their home towns. As for the seniors
issue, Elliot Lake has shown that small towns can encourage retirees to remain; initiatives
such as “Age Friendly Cities” are helping municipalities plan for the growing number of
seniors that Canada expects in the coming decades.
4. Lack of youth volunteers: With the exception of the young leaders program offered in
conjunction with the high school, there is a perception that Cochrane’s youth are not
engaged in community life.
5. Remote geographical location: Cochrane is 716 km north of Toronto, the major
manufacturing, distribution and population centre in the country. The closest large city is
Timmins, some 100 km away. Its distance from larger centres can be a disadvantage where
freight costs and transportation time are issues.
6. Apathy in business community: As noted earlier, community leaders are very concerned at
the lack of leadership and community involvement among members of the business
community. A pro-active Chamber of Commerce or Board of Trade that effectively
represents its members can be a significant asset in community economic development
efforts.
7. No affordable housing / assisted living: As in many communities across Canada, there is a
shortage of both affordable housing and assisted living facilities for seniors. Affordable
housing in particular can be a considerable barrier to economic development. If there are
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