Post Davos – Part III.
We’ve solved the layoff issue and given Premier Ford something to do. But there is a third component to this immediate action mentality that political leadership needs to do NOW. Our resources industries require front line attention; here’s how it can be done quickly.

It’s been argued in these spaces for some time that the rail line to Churchill ought to be a focus for our resources trade. There is a steel mill in the Soo. Let’s immediately start to twin that rail line with rail made right here in Canada. And while Algoma is producing more steel rail, why not push CP & CN to ramp up their programs of twinning more of their major coast-to-coast rail networks. Furthermore, while the idea of rapid rail is delightful, it is also rather idealistic. Since it will require new rail beds anyway, why not accelerate the concept by actually adding a third track to the existing Via Rail route from Québec to Windsor. The main reason that passenger trains are late is due to their having to stop and give way to CN freight trains. By building a separate track along side, there would be less need for land & property expropriation and by building some sections around communities, those could be given over to freight trains which would cause fewer tie-ups in those populated areas. Not only would this give more work for steel-workers it would also increase the need for all kinds of skills associated with railway construction. Many of these skills are tied in with apprenticeship opportunities thus increasing the job market for young people between the ages of 18 & 35.

Another resource industry that is being hurt by USA Trade behaviour is forestry. Governments are accused of subsidization. A much different approach would be government purchasing sizeable amounts of lumber for major projects inside Canada. We already have a number of very competent housing manufacturing plants in Canada. For the Churchill projects, work camps will be needed and this is a great opportunity for major lumber purchases. Even more pressing is the need for significant expansion of housing facilities in the far north. Currently there is next to no Arctic residential/office/business accommodation for military and its support services. Getting the necessary trades to the north to build such places is fantasy; instead, get the lumber industry and the modular housing firms to jointly work on new, updated, energy efficient, super comfortable residences along with office & service units that can be transported primarily by truck & ship to key ports and then carried on Arctic-adapted vehicles to other sites (this can be best accommodated during the winter season, the sites having been prepared during the long daylight hours of the summer). This also expands the opportunities for trades training and gives the transportation industry (which already has done a great deal of hauling in the far north) another opportunity to innovate and shine.

A sidebar to all this that we should not overlook. As we undertake these massive development projects, there will be a concomitant need to feed the workers. Again, we have a strong agriculture-oriented industry within our border as well as a useful fishery harvesting system. As a way to move us off supply-management, the milk, egg & poultry producers would be invited to ramp up production so that those products are readily available in these new locations. This would be balanced by more beef and pork production as well as inspiring more foodstuffs companies to utilize our grains, cereals & pulses crops for innovative food offerings in remote locales. Some options may take a while to get fully underway, but the very thought of making more money through locally developed agriculture and fishery options should spur some serious entrepreneurial thinking & action.

So federal government (because every one needs to get on board as these ideas can impact many, many constituencies) let’s put aside the speech-making and hemming & hawwing and show us that we as a country, as Canadians, are capable once again of acting with speed, precision and self-enhancement. As I have said before, here is the opportunity of a lifetime to get a whole myriad of interests coming together to make us a self-reliant country once again.

In reflection,
g.w.