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Last Updated: May 8th, 2008 - 20:33:00
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‘State of West’ study focuses more on big cities
By DAVE MABELLIt confirms the obvious: Western Canada’s economy is growing fast, but it faces challenges.
Mar 27, 2008, 04:13
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It confirms the obvious: Western Canada’s economy is growing fast, but it faces challenges.
Greenhouse gas emissions, urban sprawl and impoverished seniors are side effects of that boom, says a major report from the Canada West Foundation.
But the Calgary-based research agency offers no remedies for the West’s problems. And its report, “State of the West,” focuses on the big cities, apparently ignoring Lethbridge and other mid-sized communities across the western provinces.
“It’s of limited value to us,” said Mayor Bob Tarleck, after the report’s public release. “There’s a danger in Alberta on focusing on Calgary and Edmonton, and thinking that’s all of Alberta.”
About two-thirds of all Western Canadians live in one of the region’s nine largest census centres, the report says. That’s where most of the population growth has been recorded, including many immigrants and First Nations members.
Brett Gartner, the foundation’s senior economist, also underlines the growing number of senior citizens — with their health concerns — in almost all urban areas. At the same time, apart from First Nations families, there are fewer and fewer residents below 15 years of age.
Western Canada’s farm population continues to fall, his report says, but new technology has helped productivity improve. Farm-related employment has dropped considerably, it says.
But that’s not true in southern Alberta, says Cheryl Dick. Thanks to new investment, the agri-food industry is creating new employment.
“There’s been lots of growth,” says Dick, executive director at Economic Development Lethbridge. “If you embrace everything agriculturally related,” Canada West has its facts wrong.
Crop science and food processing are just two of the region’s growth industries, she says.
As to the rest of the report, “We’d look at how they interpret their data.”
For its role in bringing more investment and employment to the south, Dick says EDL depends more on local or regional research. But she says some larger-scope studies can be helpful as well.
The Alberta labour force report compiled in 2005-06, for example, helped with employment projections for Lethbridge and southern Alberta.
Dick also takes issue with Canada West’s preoccupation with the biggest cities.
“I really feel the future of this region is in the smaller, dynamic cities,” and Dick cites the number of longtime Calgarians moving to Lethbridge for its lifestyle advantages as an indication of that shift.
For his part, Tarleck says “We’re the overlooked gem,” although that’s changing.
“We don’t get all the headlines.”
When city officials look for relevant studies, he adds, they often rely on the work done by EDL and other southern Alberta agencies.
“For example, we compare the cost of living in Lethbridge with other cities” — an advantage not reported in the Canada West study.
As well, the city collaborates with other agencies in gathering and reporting economic information.
“There’s a real commitment to doing things smarter here.”
© Copyright by Lethbridge Herald.com
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