- Joined
- Sep 25, 2007
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- 201
Hi all,
A column from the December 1st edition of the Globe and Mail (Report on Business). Excerpts
Hundreds of communities across Canada missed out on the past decade of economic growth and are now at risk of falling even further behind. The old economy has gone - as fish plants, sawmills, mines and pulp mills have closed. Some have created a new economy - often through tourism and culture. Many are in despair or denial.
The secret ingredient for recovery is to encourage communities to take responsibility for their own futures. New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham talks about self-sufficiency as "standing on our own two feet."
Premier Danny Williams decided to address the exodus of young people from Newfoundland and Labrador by launching a dialogue with 480 young people aged 18 to 30. Most are still living in the province, but others have already left for Fort McMurray, Alta., or Ottawa. What he got from the dialogue, conducted by Canadian Policy Research Networks, was an outpouring of passion for the communities where they grew up. That was followed by the hard-headed statement that "without a job that offers a living wage, it is not possible to stay." They also said that "if services are not provided relatively close to where they live, they will leave."
Deep anxiety about access to health care, education and other services is shared by residents of small communities in every province from coast to coast.
"I would love to see this become public policy," he said. "It`s the right way to help people when they lose their jobs."
In fact, it helps the whole community stand on its own two feet.
Getting people involved in solving collective problems and creating community-based employment: These ideas belong in every government`s tool kit.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...=judith+maxwell
Keith
A column from the December 1st edition of the Globe and Mail (Report on Business). Excerpts
Hundreds of communities across Canada missed out on the past decade of economic growth and are now at risk of falling even further behind. The old economy has gone - as fish plants, sawmills, mines and pulp mills have closed. Some have created a new economy - often through tourism and culture. Many are in despair or denial.
The secret ingredient for recovery is to encourage communities to take responsibility for their own futures. New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham talks about self-sufficiency as "standing on our own two feet."
Premier Danny Williams decided to address the exodus of young people from Newfoundland and Labrador by launching a dialogue with 480 young people aged 18 to 30. Most are still living in the province, but others have already left for Fort McMurray, Alta., or Ottawa. What he got from the dialogue, conducted by Canadian Policy Research Networks, was an outpouring of passion for the communities where they grew up. That was followed by the hard-headed statement that "without a job that offers a living wage, it is not possible to stay." They also said that "if services are not provided relatively close to where they live, they will leave."
Deep anxiety about access to health care, education and other services is shared by residents of small communities in every province from coast to coast.
"I would love to see this become public policy," he said. "It`s the right way to help people when they lose their jobs."
In fact, it helps the whole community stand on its own two feet.
Getting people involved in solving collective problems and creating community-based employment: These ideas belong in every government`s tool kit.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...=judith+maxwell
Keith