Other Manitoba and Saskatchewan Developments

[pspeid]

I think in any discussion of attracting business to Manitoba, the nature of the business, it's leadership, and it's history in other communities it has operated in are perfectly legitimate questions for a government to ask. Governments have the responsibility to attract business and grow the economy, but to do so in a responsible manner. To do that we have to be realistic about the nature of the beast we have to deal with.

IMO that means both recognizing the need for business to sustain and grow the economy, and recognizing that business does not not exist to sustain and grow the economy. They exist to create wealth for their owners and/or shareholders, full stop. Anything else, including providing employment, constructing pretty office buildings, or being "good corporate citizens", is window dressing; hopefully good for business, but first to get jettisoned if profit margins go below what are desired.

Because of that, government's responsibility is to the electorate, not to any one person, company or industry. Governments can't afford to have "trickle down thinking", where they bend over backwards to accommodate the establishment of a business, only to hope and pray that business might see fit to share some of it's wealth. Spoiler alert: they don't, at least not voluntarily.

Can the government in a province like Manitoba create conditions that are attractive enough to lure businesses without forgoing tax revenue, and worker/environmental protections? It's a tough balance, especially when more resource-rich provinces have the luxury of waiting for businesses to come to them. I think it's what we have seen here for years, grow niche industry & business, diversify, try to balance incentives with public good, and, hopefully, be realistic about the task.

What we don't want to do is panic and sell the cow for a few promises and a bag of allegedly magic beans. This beans never seem to grow as promised in the real world.