Posted Dec 29, 2010, 10:35 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 739
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I think to bicker and argue about whether Manitoba is a have or have not province, along with attempting to label other provinces with such a vague title is really a terrible way of classifying a particular region.
Of course many people state that how prosperous a region is comes from the amount of natural resources and population in an area, which is true to an extent, but we must remember that depending on the needs of the national or global population, what the current trends are, and other social and economic factors that effect everyone, things can change. A lot. If we take a look at Ontario during the recession, lots of manufacturing jobs were hit hard, and Ontario suffered greatly. If we look into the future and pretend that oil has run out, we will also see many other regional centres with incredible amounts of wealth collapse because there is nothing to replace it. In the end, it really depends on what industries are present in your province.
Manitoba has a smaller population, and we don't sit on much of the world's most precious resource right now. Our friend to the west seems to have found some luck despite their similarly small population, and that's good for them. However, I believe that Manitoba will continue to grow at a steady pace and in fact be one of the greatest places to live on earth. It is not the crap hole that some people suggest, nor is it upscale Manhattan. But what I do know is that it is part of Canada, and there are many people here that enjoy their lives. We have an incredible amount of wealth produced in terms of tangible resources such as food, and non-tangible resources such as knowledge and innovation. Whether you like it or not, Manitoba does well. We don't boom, but we also don't bust. We diversify, and I think that will be our strength. I don't think Winnipeg will see an office tower boom like Calgary did, but no sooner will the oil run out and those towers be vacant! However here in Manitoba, hydro and wind electricity is a stable form of electricity generation and we have a solid grasp on what it means to create a successful and sustainable utility industry here in Manitoba.
People will always complain, Governments will change, and not everyone will have their tinyist issues addressed by those who head the public front here in Manitoba, but I tell you that it is a good place to live, whether you live in Winnipeg or rural Manitoba (I live in both and I can assure you that they are both a wonderful experience). Manitoba will continue to have good industries, smart graduates, innovative companies, and friendly people. You can choose to focus on the negative, but just because we aren't getting 30 plus shinny skyscrapers, doesn't mean we aren't doing well.
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