Comment 40322

By Henry and Joe (anonymous) | Posted May 03, 2010 at 12:29:41

Mr Lester,

I think we are talking about two different issues. One is globalization/de-industrialization which has decimated our commercial tax base. The other is our ability to compete with neigbouring municipalities for tax paying/working residents. I agree with you on the first issue that service sector jobs are less valuable than manufacturing jobs. We are also at a large disadvantage in trying to compete with US jurisdictions that are putting huge money on the table to lure industries south. How do we stop the bleeding? I am not sure, but I think it starts with demanding protection for our jobs. It means standing up for workers in the face of lobbyist power over goverments. Unfortunately, a lot of jobs these days involve simply moving goods in and out of warehouses or moving money around from fund to fund. These people have to live somewhere. Right now, most of those people are choosing to live in the GTA rather than Hamilton. It is bizarre to me to hear arguments against a condo development because "it might attract commuters". You're right on the mark that we need jobs and liveable wages for people first, but I think we can try to increase the residential tax base by infilling as well.

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