So the city gives out pink slips and doesn't fill other positions. For years the city spent like they had won a Lottery. Fourth biggest runway in Canada that has never been utilized, bigger new policing facility than what is probably really needed, buying property in the downtown core, bidding on the Winter Games etc.
This northern area of B.C. isn't growing. One only has to look at the new Telus phone books that were recently delivered to see the downward trend. Last years book had 325 yellow pages and 130 white pages. This years book has 288 yellow business listings, that's down 37 pages with about a average of 40 businesses per page which equals around 1,480 less business listings. This year's white page listing is down to 124 pages with a loss of about 2,160 people less being listed.
Seeing as how the city and maybe regional district will soon be doing budget planning they may want to look into the fact we could be losing businesses and people which relate to jobs and in the end tax revenue before making any further big spending decisions or buying any more downtown property.
Doug Walder
Prince George
