YEG - Edmonton Int Airport

[hilman]

Awesome numbers, can't wait to use the new US terminal at EIA!

[Gary Wayne]

It truly is remarkable to see the growth taking place. Does anyone know what is happening with Port Alberta and do they have plans to have it operational soon. When one thinks about the employment opportunities it will create ,i Can only say to all levels of government lets get this built and lets do it now.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Gary Wayne

Does anyone know what is happening with Port Alberta

Yes, it's being built in Winnipeg. Honest. E-town dithered and got scooped.

[LO 044]

Originally Posted by s211

Yes, it's being built in Winnipeg. Honest. E-town dithered and got scooped.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Maybe a little of both.

[Jasper and one o nin]

Not exactly. Initially, Port Alberta was going to be an integral part of EIA. The philosophy has changed to adapt to the characteristics of the Capital Region. Having PA contained within the EIA lands did not make sense for a number of reasons. What was driving PA was the establishment of a deep water port at Prince Rupert and the fact that the transportation of goods could arrive to its final destination more quickly. The obvious issue was there was no link between the CN Rail line and EIA. The second issue was that full containers would be coming in from China, off loading in Edmonton and coming back empty. That is why Winnipeg would make more sense b/c outgoing products can more easily converge on Winnipeg than with Edmonton.
So the philosophy has changed where PA is no longer a destination or a specific location, but rather an inland port initiative with a broader regional context. I think the idea now is to focus on the strengths of the region vis-a-vis the energy sector and translate that into shipping and receiving of goods and materials.
So, you're right that the initial concept and idea failed. But its now turned into a broader regional initiative.
Problem with that is, the original concept would be a big piece of the puzzle to diversify our economy. Edmonton had the ability to become a fully functioning inland port within a free trade zone that was completed isolated from the energy sector. This would have been a new industry for Edmonton akin to what shipping was done for economic prosperity of Vancouver. Problem was there was no plan to make it work. Lots of questions that could not be answered. Like how to get from CN to EIA and what to put in the containers that are going back.
Now the new concept is relying on the energy sector to make it work. Not exactly diversifying our economy.

[Gary Wayne]

That is very bad news for Edmonton, but good news for Winnipeg. I only hope the energy sector will make something happen . I do also think that in Edmonton we have to really start pushing for more diversification of our economy or we could very well become like Detroit. One of the challenges facing Edmonton is what can we do in Edmonton sooner then later so that we don't become another Detroit. Considering the fact that Edmonton has the largest land mass of any international airport in Canada it would be nice to lobby the airlines to perhaps move some of there head offices to Edmonton and build at The airport lands.

[MalcolmTucker]

^ Winnipeg is much closer to a much larger population base than Edmonton could ever hope to be. Besides cities that are already on US transcontinental railroads, the only city Edmonton would be closer to is Calgary. Add in a higher wage base here and it makes sense to go further east.

You can't beat economics - when you don't have a comparative advantage you're sweet out of luck.

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by Gary Wayne

That is very bad news for Edmonton, but good news for Winnipeg. I only hope the energy sector will make something happen . I do also think that in Edmonton we have to really start pushing for more diversification of our economy or we could very well become like Detroit. One of the challenges facing Edmonton is what can we do in Edmonton sooner then later so that we don't become another Detroit. Considering the fact that Edmonton has the largest land mass of any international airport in Canada it would be nice to lobby the airlines to perhaps move some of there head offices to Edmonton and build at The airport lands.

Edmonton has one of the most diverse economies out of many of our major centres. So no, it's likely that we won't ever become like Detroit.

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

^ Winnipeg is much closer to a much larger population base than Edmonton could ever hope to be. Besides cities that are already on US transcontinental railroads, the only city Edmonton would be closer to is Calgary. Add in a higher wage base here and it makes sense to go further east.

You can't beat economics - when you don't have a comparative advantage you're sweet out of luck.

meh.

Take a look at all the massive investments happening around CN's new Yard. There is such a — ton of distribution/light manufacturing stuff being built on the north west side of the city it's mind blowing. Not to mention the stuff that will surrond new yard CP wants to build on the south side. The investment is happening here...except we don't need federal help to put us at some sort of advantage by declaring tax free zones to encourage growth the way other cities do.

[Jasper and one o nin]

We have a diverse economy, but without the energy sector, very few economic sectors would exist. For example, funding for R and D in bio sciences and nano tech comes directly from oil revenues. Bulk of manufacturing is a result of the energy sector. Warehousing, same thing... Size of public sector is based on population, which is employed by the energy sector or spin off businesses industries. People working in the energy sector typically get paid more, more disposable income, spurs more industry... bla bla bla..
Lets put it this way, if Edmonton's economy was a mall, the anchor tenant would be the energy sector. Because everybody wants to buy something from this tenant, many smaller tenants want to be in the same mall. An inland port could have been a second anchor tenant

[MalcolmTucker]

When the anchor tenant is Holt Renfrew and continually expanding, needing new staff, it is hard to staff a Bay. Only when capital spending in the oilsands starts to level off and the rest of the economy catches up will there be enough incentive to concentrate on other things. Look at the mid 90s, when both Calgary and Edmonton were able to have large non energy companies driving growth applying knowledge and skills gained in energy to other sectors.

Without major subsidies, or a prolonged drop in energy prices it just doesn't make sense to do so now, we just have to hope for a soft landing when it happens like Pittsburg, not a hard one like Detroit.

[Jasper and one o nin]

Edmonton had negative growth for much of the 90s

[cyeg66]

^ And Calgary didn't. Thank you, Mr. Klein.

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by Jasper and one o nin

We have a diverse economy, but without the energy sector, very few economic sectors would exist. For example, funding for R and D in bio sciences and nano tech comes directly from oil revenues. Bulk of manufacturing is a result of the energy sector. Warehousing, same thing... Size of public sector is based on population, which is employed by the energy sector or spin off businesses industries. People working in the energy sector typically get paid more, more disposable income, spurs more industry... bla bla bla..
Lets put it this way, if Edmonton's economy was a mall, the anchor tenant would be the energy sector. Because everybody wants to buy something from this tenant, many smaller tenants want to be in the same mall. An inland port could have been a second anchor tenant

Most economies have a 'back bone' industry that supports it. In Alberta, its the energy sector. If we didn't have that we'd likely be no larger Manitoba or Saskatchewan population-wise. In BC its forestry and mining and in Ontario its manufacturing and mining.

[cyeg66]

...in Quebec its maple syrup, Molson Ex, and "bien-etre social" cheques....

....though I'd still move back there in a jiff, given the opportunity. I'm missing F1 weekend!!!

[Coldrsx]

We need to be more innovative... not so much diverse.

[MalcolmTucker]

^ Bingo. All the crazy R&D going on now to figure out ways to make the oilsands more profitable and more environmentally friendly will pay dividends in industries we don't even know are remotely related right now. It is about leveraging, so that when oil isn't as central to society anymore there are lots of spinoffs. We can't predict what those are now, but with the large base of engineering, chemical, and general research once oil is less lucrative comparative advantage kicks in and it makes sense to do other work in Edmonton, unlike now where it is difficult to compete while here due to crowding out.

Industry continually generates spinoffs now, but for the most part they stagnate once they are a certain size and either expand elsewhere to grow, or are bought out. When the economy is less wild they'll stay and grow.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Edmonton does try to diversify from O & G, but the — Calgarians at the fed and provincial levels keep killing (or wanting to kill) such attempts.

Capital Health? Killed by Liepart.
Nanotech? Danielle Smith wants to kill it.
U of A? Dave Taylor wants U of C > U of A
Expo? Harper killed it.
Port Alberta? Pretty much killed by Harper.

[Jasper and one o nin]

A new jewel to be revealed at EIA June 15

ground-breaking ceremony for the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel at EIA.

[Coldrsx]

... revised design?????