Quote:
Originally Posted by alittle1
You do not have to know the whole history of Wpg, just some of it.
Ask yourself, if its being around since the 70's, why are they just acting on it now?
I hate going off topic in someone else's thread, but the Federal government took more out of Winnipeg, than it ever put back. Because of geographical location, Winnipeg should be paramount in the aviation and transportation business, but the Feds prefer to subsidize Corn grow in Ontario and shipped back as corn flakes to Winnipeg.
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My take on things (prior to my existence on this planet, and during my earlier days) is that our past federal governments have been based out of an Eastern power base. They did what is good for Ontario / Quebec / Atlantic Canada, while the west got screwed. My inlaws, for example, are very bitter about the lack of federal government funding for transportation in the west... e.g. just now struggling to twin more of the Trans-Canada in BC, while Ontario and Quebec have soaked up infrastructure money for a long time. The $2.46B upgrade of Highway 1 and the Port Mann Bridge (also critical elements to the west coast port system) are being paid for 100% through the Province and tolls. No help there. Heck, Quebec City has a comparably over-built freeway system (relative to other Canadian cities) for a city of its size (its quite easy to drive around the metro area there). But infrastructure spending is just a proxy of how the feds have treated the East versus west on many other fronts.
Well, now we have a conservative Majority, whose Prime Minister and roots are from the West. The economy is being shifted westward with the continued rapid development of the energy and resources sectors. This is a priority (given the recent streamlining of environmental regulation, and associated science programs), and with this kind of development, you can expect additional transportation and even manufacturing to come out of it.
Why did they wait for 40 years to *finally* build CentrePort? I don't know, I'm no expert on the topic, but I would be willing to guess that having a federal government whose priorities may favour Western Canada a bit more would be willing to support the program. Further to this, the Province had a rough time during the 80's and 90's (which arguably the feds could have done more about to support manufacturing and the aerospace industries). However, now things seem to be moving forward at a sustainable pace here; the economy is growing at a healthy rate, unemployment is low.
At the end of the day, whats passed is past. What matter is what is happening today, and for the future.
Back to Chief Peguis for a second... are we going to start seeing planning processes start for further extensions of the roadway?