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The infrastructure portfolio is large and includes roads, transit, educational institu- tions, health care and many structures that are below ground -- such as sewers and water mains -- and not visible, but nonetheless extremely important for growing urban centres. In a number of columns over the past fi ve years, I have explicitly addressed the prob- lem of closed tendering -- a process where the bidding on public projects is restricted to construction companies connected with des- ignated unions. In many cases across Ontario, local companies and their workers are prevent- ed from working on new courthouses, schools and a wide range of municipal services, such as transportation and water treatment. Clearly, the current process of restricting bids is driving up the cost of projects at a time when municipalities and school boards can- not aff ord it. It is our chamber's position that all qualifi ed union and non-union companies should maintain the right to bid on publicly- funded projects. Fair and open tendering is the only method for giving all taxpayers the right to work in their own communities and achieve maximum value. In Toronto alone, it is esti- mated that $174 million could be saved annually by opening the bidding process. The sav- ings could be directed to social and other essential services that municipalities are strug- gling to deliver. Ending closed tendering has widespread public sup- port as well. A forum poll con- ducted last summer indicated that 85 per cent of respon- dents agreed that the Ontario government should end the current tendering policy that makes construction projects 30 per cent more expensive. It is now time for the provincial government to make tough choices between efficient allocation of taxpayer dollars and labour unions reaping the benefi ts of outdated and ineff ective legislation. Our chamber has identifi ed the tendering process as a major issue for the upcoming provincial elec- tion. We will be hosting a panel discussion with construction and business executives from across the province, and I would encourage all municipal representatives and businesses to attend. A recent report with new information on the impacts of closed tendering will be pro- vided. The event is scheduled for noon on Dec. 6 at the Hol- iday Inn on Fairway Road in Kitchener, with registration on the Greater Kitchener Waterloo chamber website. Hope to see you there. ••• Ian McLean is president and CEO of the Greater K-W Chamber of Commerce. MOSES SPRINGER PARK TRAIL AND PLAYGROUND RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT The City of Waterloo is planning to rehabilitate the portion of the Laurel Trail that runs through Moses Springer Park. The rehabilitation of the trail will involve re-surfacing the trail along with some changes to grading and alignment. The project will also include the replacement of the existing playground equipment and re-grading of the area to address existing drainage issues. The possibility of addressing the spread of invasive phragmites (common reads) to the northeast of the existing play area will be investigated. Construction is anticipated to be completed in Spring/Summer 2018. The preliminary design for the Moses Springer Park Trail Rehabilitation project will be shared and at an upcoming Public Information Centre, which you are invited to attend and provide feedback. Date: Thursday, November 30, 2017 Time: Drop in anytime between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Place: Moses Springer Community Centre - Optimists Room 150 Lincoln Rd, Waterloo If you have any questions or concerns about the project, please contact: Gavin Vermeer, P.Eng. Senior Project Engineer - Engineering Services Integrated Planning and Public Works City of Waterloo NOTICE P. 519.886.1550 TTY. 1.866.786.3941 waterloo.ca/publicnotices Provincial government has to put an end to restrictive tendering BUSINESS MATTERS IAN MCLEAN Brian Robertson, president of Vision Travel Solutions, announce that Peter and Linda Van Der Heyden have agreed to join forces with Vision Travel. Located across southern Ontario and estab- lished in 1986 by the Van Der Heyden, the family- owned operation specializes in leisure, corporate and group travel with the head offi ce located in Waterloo. Peter will join Vision Travel in an agree- ment scheduled to be fi nalized by Nov. 30. "Peter has built a great organization and we look forward to welcoming both him and his team into the Vision Travel family," said Robertson in a press release. "As much as we are now a glob- al company, this acquisition will create a much stronger network of brick and mortar locations across Ontario, complementing our personalized approach to travel." Van Der Heyden joins Vision Travel