Colin Hansen, real estate agent.

Location, Location, Location, it would seem to be the premise being put forward by the province’s economic development minister. Colin Hansen has been interviewed by the Terrace Standard, and in a story appearing on their website today, he suggests that a smart investor might be wise to investigate the 73 acre site of the former Terrace Lumber Company.

A site that is now up for sale after the failed lumber company went bankrupt and sold off its assets at a recent auction. It was no doubt a helpful bit of promotion for a struggling area and is designed to attract some much needed industry to that northwest city.

Hansen made his comments as a follow up to a speech from Premier Gordon Campbell last week, over how the entire north could benefit from the currently under construction container port in Prince Rupert.

And while the Minister does his best to create some interest in Terrace, one particular paragraph of that Terrace Standard story should be of concern to officials in Prince Rupert.

During the course of the interview Hansen explained the benefits of locating in Terrace with the following; "While there is a port under development in Prince Rupert and there's the potential for it to grow, one thing that Prince Rupert does not have is any significant amount of industrial land and that's what Terrace has got," he said.

It’s a paragraph that seems to paint the picture of Rupert as a place with little land left to develop, which should be received with a bit of alarm by the Mayor and his Council. Considering the lack of industry in our city at the moment, one would think the last thing we would want out there as fact is the idea that there’s nothing left to develop here.

Looking around the area at the moment, one might wonder if Hansen has been to town lately. The fact that there is a rather empty looking North Coast Sawmill yard in our Industrial park, a pulp mill yard that shows no indication of coming to life any time soon and more than enough land over at Ridley Island as well as along the Highway 16 corridor, this perception that you have to locate in Terrace if you wish to find land, could be rather detrimental to any plans the city may have to grow the city and create jobs locally.

The impression with the Container Port project seems to be that everyone is under the impression that there will be jobs, jobs and more jobs to go with it. Every town along the way seems to believe that it will be massive job machine for them. Which while possibly true, could very well mean less opportunity locally, while the bounty gets spread out across the north.

If Prince George is expecting to create its share of jobs out pf the port and Terrace as well is setting up to siphon of its share. Then the question for our council will be how many jobs are left for the folks at the Gateway and rail head of the project?

With helpful comments by a Cabinet Minister about a lack of land to develop locally, Prince Rupert had best get busy showing developers and investors that he’s not exactly correct in his assessment. Otherwise the anticipated permanent job boom here (which everyone seems to be banking on to reverse the cities fortunes) may end up heading out of town.

When it comes to development, perception is everything. If people truly believe that there is no land available to develop in our community, then they will seek it out elsewhere. In a town facing a possible unemployment rate of 20% this winter, the need attract industry and create jobs is urgent.

Changing impressions should be a given, starting with those of provincial cabinet ministers.

Old mill lands could factor in port plan
Terrace Standard
November 8, 2006

INVESTORS LOOKING to cash in on benefits to flow from the container port under construction in Prince Rupert would be well-advised to take a look at the 73 acres the Terrace Lumber Company has for sale, says Colin Hansen, provincial economic development minister.

"Well, I think that's one piece of property among others that has good services and is close to road and rail," said Hansen last week of the company's vacant log yard and soon-to-be empty main mill site.

"While there is a port under development in Prince Rupert and there's the potential for it to grow, one thing that Prince Rupert does not have is any significant amount of industrial land and that's what Terrace has got," he said.

Hansen's comments followed a Premier Gordon Campbell speech last week in which he said the provincial government wanted to put a plan together enabling all of the northwest to benefit from Prince Rupert container port spinoffs.

As it is, Prince Rupert remains the prime beneficiary in this region along with Prince George, which is to become an inland port where outgoing and incoming cargo is to be sorted and moved onward.

But Hansen said Terrace's geographic location gives it opportunities past the container port.
"With the potential for mines up north on Hwy37 and the new (Alcan) smelter in Kitimat, I think Terrace is well suited to take advantage," he said.

But Hansen stopped short at outlining exactly what the province would offer municipalities by way of a common development plan.

"It's early. The premier and I had a meeting just on Wednesday and he said, in the middle, 'let's do it' so it will happen," Hansen added of a session Oct. 25 when asked if the province was willing to kick in some money.

"We certainly have resources within existing budgets to do so," he said.

"We'll look at who brings what to the table in terms of strengths. And if the municipalities want us to take on a leadership role, we can do that."

Hansen also described as "interesting" the idea of having a northwestern office specifically to help potential offshore investors.

"There might be an opportunity to tap into cross-ministry resources. Sometimes, investors get frustrated in getting approvals from different areas of government," he said.