Global Transportation Hub (Regina)

[thefourthtower]

http://leaderpost.com/opinion/column...tunity-for-gth
Blockchain technology tremendous opportunity for GTH


Peter C. Wallis
More from Peter C. Wallis
In his Dec. 17 column, Murray Mandryk comments on the long-term sustainability of Regina’s inland port, the Global Transportation Hub (GTH).

At a recent Van Horne Institute conference in Winnipeg, we learned about the strategic importance of the Global Transportation Hub as a link between Saskatchewan’s export-driven economy and world markets. The GTH has attained the status of a foreign trade zone, and has attracted significant infrastructure partners, including Loblaws and Canadian Pacific.

The GTH offers a critical exchange point for imported product to be distributed to southern Saskatchewan and the northern United States. It also acts as a gathering and facilitation centre for connection with the West Coast ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert via the road and railway networks of Western Canada. The identification of empty containers being returned through Regina for transfer back to Asia is extremely important, so that these containers can be filled with product from Saskatchewan for delivery to world markets.

Contrary to what is suggested in Mandryk’s column, blockchain technology will actually assist customers utilizing the Global Transportation Hub to ensure that there is adequate container capacity available for export purposes.

Mandryk writes about “unclaimed port containers making their way this far inland” and opines that “new block chain (sic) technology that better monitors the flow of these containers may eliminate this part of the GTH business.” In reality, this technology may be a key success factor for the GTH and other forward-looking transportation hubs around the world.




The blockchain allows tracking of any asset on a distributed public ledger. It can be read by anyone, and anyone can write to it. There are technical safeguards to ensure that only valid transactions appear on the blockchain.

This is the technology that makes cybercurrencies like Bitcoin possible, but it also has much broader applications. Blockchain-based systems are already being used to track limited edition artworks and weed out counterfeit designer clothing. It may be the way health records and land titles are secured in the future. Retail giant Walmart is testing a blockchain approach to instantly identify products that need to be pulled off the shelf in a food safety recall.

The GTH could become a world leader in using this cheap, reliable and disruptive technology to vastly improve shipping logistics. It would mean better tracking of perishable products and, far from orphaned containers piling up, the blockchain would optimize their use, with indisputable real-time tracking of every container’s movements and contents.

“Blockchain has the ability to empower our industry into a true digital age,” said Jody Cleworth, CEO of U.K.-based Maritime Transport International. “The sheer volume of containers processed per year means that safely decentralizing the management of these containers will radically reduce the complexities of shipping.”

Finland is taking the concept one step further, with what they call “smart containers.” Using real-time information about everything from weather delays to container contents, coupled with machine learning, shipping containers will be able to determine their own routes and schedules.

Blockchain technology can even bring “self-executing contracts,” where objects arrange their own processing. So, if a high-value shipment of Nova Scotia lobster tails (or Saskatchewan “prairie oysters”) is headed to a Hollywood VIP’s party, and happens to overnight in Regina, the container will understand the value and perishability of its contents. It will autonomously devise a plan to get those delicacies onto the table in time, even if it changes the shipping cost.

Unlike more established ports, the GTH isn’t heavily tied to legacy systems yet. This is a tremendous opportunity to build what experts believe is coming – a world where containers are intelligent and goods flow smoothly via the optimal routing. The GTH can be a key node in that smart shipping network — if it seizes the opportunity now.

Peter C. Wallis is recently retired President and Chief Executive Officer of The Van Horne Institute and Dr. Thomas P. Keenan is Professor of Environmental Design and Adjunct Professor of Computer Science

[one_brick_at_a_time]

http://www.brightenvantage.com/page-1303.html


http://cjme.com/article/1239272/dund...ew-project-gth


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskat...-gth-1.4100414

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Lol.

[thefourthtower]

Thank you for posting this , its going to transform the GTH ,beautiful buildings

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

Lol.

This is the correct response.

They've done such a good job at Dundurn that they clearly deserve the attention and nice photo op on this one.

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by thefourthtower

Thank you for posting this , its going to transform the GTH ,beautiful buildings

Are you really that naive?

[thefourthtower]

Originally Posted by pappcam

Are you really that naive?

There is always hope with out hope we have nothing

[HomeInMyShoes]

"The market interest, demand and support at this GTEC is phenomenal; very strong support,"

The "very strong support" sounds like Trump.

[pappcam]

If one tried hard to think of a way to turn the GTH into a bigger fiasco than it already is, one would probably think Brightenview needs to get involved.

Congrats to the powers that be for making it happen.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by pappcam

This is the correct response.

They've done such a good job at Dundurn that they clearly deserve the attention and nice photo op on this one.

From the groundbreaking ceremony photos, there is already more work completed at the GTH site than was ever done at the Dundurn site. That project was dead in the water from the beginning. Maybe I am being naive, but I think the GTH project may actually proceed.

BTW, I really like the massive skyscrapers in the background of the rendering. Looks like a lot of big work forthcoming in downtown Regina...

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Crisis

From the groundbreaking ceremony photos, there is already more work completed at the GTH site than was ever done at the Dundurn site. That project was dead in the water from the beginning. Maybe I am being naive, but I think the GTH project may actually proceed.

BTW, I really like the massive skyscrapers in the background of the rendering. Looks like a lot of big work forthcoming in downtown Regina...

Clearly their focus is immigrant investors looking to qualify under the SINP Entrepreneur program. Any commercial successes are secondary.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Clearly their focus is immigrant investors looking to qualify under the SINP Entrepreneur program. Any commercial successes are secondary.

Brigthenview like many of the immigrant schemes should mostly be considered nearly ponzi scheme. They're all predicated on selling units to people in mainland china, who then sell to others, etc.

They very well might build one building, but it should never be considered a serious import/export hub.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by pappcam

If one tried hard to think of a way to turn the GTH into a bigger fiasco than it already is, one would probably think Brightenview needs to get involved.

Congrats to the powers that be for making it happen.

LOL. Exactly. You'd think the Sask Party's braintrust would have alarm bells going off at the prospect of Brightenview getting involved in this project - they don't need any more bad PR.

Maybe they'll also attract Great Prairie Development Corp & Fortress to build some residential communities at the GTH (with Eberle at the helm of the project?)

[casper]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

Brigthenview like many of the immigrant schemes should mostly be considered nearly ponzi scheme. They're all predicated on selling units to people in mainland china, who then sell to others, etc.

They very well might build one building, but it should never be considered a serious import/export hub.

I am not convinced it is a ponzi scheme. I think the people buying into this are basically looking at the cost of gaining landed immigrant status in Canada. Once they have there papers if they can resell to get some of the money back so bit it.

Is it any more ethical than a ponzi scheme? Perhaps not.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by casper

I am not convinced it is a ponzi scheme. I think the people buying into this are basically looking at the cost of gaining landed immigrant status in Canada. Once they have there papers if they can resell to get some of the money back so bit it.

Is it any more ethical than a ponzi scheme? Perhaps not.

Putting it that way makes it seem less like a Ponzi scheme & more like immigration fraud.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

Putting it that way makes it seem less like a Ponzi scheme & more like immigration fraud.

I don't think it is immigration fraud. You do the minimum required for the minimum number of years. Once it is over they move on. These guys are usually following all the rules.

Do I think it is ethical? No. Do I think it is legal? They are probably careful to ensure it is.

[Stormer]

The Government condones it. As far as I know they do not require you to invest in a viable business. Any business will do.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

I'm concerned what his being story is being told back at home.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by Stormer

The Government condones it. As far as I know they do not require you to invest in a viable business. Any business will do.

Well, they do require "a well thought-out idea to ensure that the business has a reasonable chance of success..." and a business plan.

At the moment (and based on the Dundurn experience), GTEC is far from a well thought-out business, viable or otherwise.

A "business" established solely to hold immigrants' money while securing SINP nomination shouldn't earn many points on the grid. But, we all know assessments such as this are subjective.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

Well, they do require "a well thought-out idea to ensure that the business has a reasonable chance of success..." and a business plan.

At the moment (and based on the Dundurn experience), GTEC is far from a well thought-out business, viable or otherwise.

A "business" established solely to hold immigrants' money while securing SINP nomination shouldn't earn many points on the grid. But, we all know assessments such as this are subjective.

The business plan will likely be something along the lines of:

- The applicant has ties/experience back in China in some product area (as an example lets say it soap).
- They decided they are going to setup an import/wholesale business that buys soap in China and sells it in Canada.
- They need warehouse space. They buy one of these units.
- They hire a sales guy to cold call stores who sell soap and try to get them to buy the staff.
- Maybe they hire someone to re-package or label the soap.
- After three years, perhaps the business is successful. If so great, if not they shut it down and sell the property to someone else.

The Dundurn proposal was basically strata comercial units in a shopping centre geared around wholesale to market household and building products from China to North American retailer buys. The retail buyers would then list the product in their own stores and sell to consumers.