When workers can't afford to live in the community where they work, every employer feels it. Housing affordability is not a social services issue — it is a local economic emergency.
The nurse at Groves Hospital. The teacher at your child's school. The tradesperson you hire. The PSW caring for your parent. The server at your favourite Elora restaurant.
These are the people who make Centre Wellington run. Employers across the community — in healthcare, hospitality, trades, and retail — report the same challenge: recruitment and retention are failing because of housing costs.
A restaurant that cannot house its kitchen staff cannot operate. A long-term care facility that cannot house its PSWs cannot provide care. This is not a future problem. It is happening now.
"The single biggest threat to Centre Wellington's economy is the inability of workers to afford to live in the community where they work."
— Neil Dunsmore Campaign Platform 2026Centre Wellington's economy is diverse: tourism centred on Elora and the Gorge, a strong agricultural base, manufacturing and skilled trades in Fergus, a growing healthcare sector, and a vibrant small business community in both downtowns. All of it depends on a workforce that can afford to live locally.