Ok....what's up with this one! 2006 Canada Census Statistics are out...and maybe we should call our Councillors...or the Mayor... perhaps even the top of the Provincial heap...Mr. McGinty! Why would a City...only a stone's throw away from Toronto, sporting the banner of McMaster University, decked out with it's own International Airport, flanked by the QEW and 403 corridors, and naturally beautified with the Niagara Escarpment, Lake Ontario, Cootes Paradise, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Confederation Park, etc etc....have such a pathetically dismal population growth rate? Well..pathetic isn't even the word to describe it! The Provincial Average Population growth rate was 6.6%....the Canada's growth rate was 5.4%....and Hamilton's...mmmmm 2.9%.  Gee...let's look around us here... We've got Kitchener/Cambridge over to the West....their growth rate is "TWICE" the National Average! How about the Toronto Communities to the North...Brampton...a whopping 33%..Mississauga...Oakville...they've all been booming! So, why don't people want to live in Hamilton? Geesh...people even seemed to be flocking to Nunavut in record numbers...they were up 10.2%!

Is it leadership at a local level? Perhaps it's lack of attention at the Provincial table. Whatever it is....it's time we got some answers! It's obvious to me that these other communities are doing a much better job at selling themselves to business....which in turn attracts the people...which in turn fuels the local economy! Hamilton...all dressed up and absolutely no where to go! Lot's of land....but just try to get it serviced...or rezoned! The WalMarts and Home Depots don't seem to have a problem putting up their box stores...but of course it's hard to support a family on the wages they pay. WE NEED INDUSTRY....WE NEED COMMERCE.....We need good paying jobs at Companies that are contributing to our tax base...giving us more money to keep the City alive! We've got the land...we have it all! I think it's time we hire some real salespeople to sell the City....or then again...I guess it's easier for Council just to vote a raise or two...and raise property taxes...certainly takes a lot less time and effort!

Just my thought for the day!