If you sit on your hands and do nothing, we all know what gets accomplished!
Sweet tweet!
Recent efforts by Big Lakes County and the Town of High Prairie in developing an economic strategy is a step forward, but only if a concerted effort is made to actually do something. As Town CAO David Joy says, don’t let the study sit on a shelf and collect dust.
The sad fact of the matter is, whether you live in High Prairie, Peace River, Falher or McLennan, efforts the last several decades have failed miserably. Agreed, there is the odd success story but in general rural Alberta is falling behind the cities. Not because it is our fault, but because there is little or no support from too many people, including ourselves.
Take a look at the “wish list” presented at the public meeting in High Prairie Jan. 12. Encourage and support small business. Clean up the community. Build a new recreation complex. Build affordable housing. Have wider retail selection. Affordable groceries. Open new businesses. All have one thing in common: it costs money.
There is one basic rule in economics: you have to make money to survive. To simply suggest opening new businesses is laughable. If anyone could open a business and make money whether in Falher or High Prairie or McLennan, they would. So why isn’t it happening?
Perhaps Deloitte Canada has an answer? I doubt it. Do not expect to see a windfall of activity after their report is released because the problems go a lot deeper than they can address.
In rural Alberta, it is extremely difficult to operate a business. If you aren’t suffocated by the high taxes from three levels of government (federal, provincial and municipal) and high cost of doing business, the lack of a qualified labour pool is the next major hurdle. Out of control utility costs with corporations raking in huge profits at the expense of small business is another factor.
The fact is, there are far too many hands reaching into the pockets of small business hindering them at a chance to make a profit and stay in business.
Coupled with the fact that local retail leakage is a serious problem and it is a recipe for disaster. Yes, prices may be high, but choosing to shop out of town or by Amazon, etc. is only killing your own town. When is the last time Amazon contributed to the food bank?
At the local political level, everyone wants economic development. Recent tax incentive policies is a good start but more needs to be done.
It is perplexing that economic studies point out the best way to keep an economy healthy is to keep the money in the hands of the people. Yet, governments continue to tax its people to death, or implement “hidden fees” which drive up the cost of doing business. It is absolutely the opposite of what the studies are telling them, yet too many governments tell us, “It’s just a little increase!”
One more straw will eventually break the camel’s back but governments and utility companies insatiable need for more money and higher profits is killing the very hands which feed it.
You want economic development? Keep taxes lower and the cost of living more affordable. People will have more money and they will spend it. Businesses will open and thrive.
Somehow, in a land far way, not many people have grasped this simple concept. Until they do, rural Alberta and places like High Prairie and McLennan will continue to struggle.
Chris Clegg