The above quote comes from a Tyee article looking into the state of Prince Rupert's economy, an article put together in the cold light of today and not the promises of the future.
With a collapse of the fishery in the latter months of this past season, the already crowded unemployment and welfare lines will find a large number of additions as the fall turns into winter.
The article goes over the differences on council between Councillor Joy Thorkelson and the Mayor, who seem to be approaching the situation from different perspectives. With suggestions of an unemployment rate approaching 20 per cent in the city this winter, and much higher in the villages, the perception that "the city is dripping with jobs", which as Thorkelson points out is the current suggestion from out of town, isn't quite there yet.
Thorkelson properly points out that the container project while definitely a good thing for the local economy, will only really provide about 100 direct jobs in its first phase. Jobs which won't really come on line until the fall of next year.
Which while certainly welcome to a community that has been down for so many a number of years now, but will provide only a dent into the larger issue of long term employment issues for the north coast. A larger job creation vision is required here, not just the hope that somebody else will provide the jobs at some future date.
The Tyee is unashamedly a left leaning site, most of their issues tend to be shaded on that side of the political spectrum. And they have picked an issue that is obviously the domain of Councillor Thorkelson due to her work at Fishermen's Hall. But still they have appeared to understand and presented the local issue quite succinctly in the article.
All this talk of the great days ahead, tomorrow country if you will, don't do much for the hundreds if not thousands who live in a much less optimistic place in today country.
The article is well worth a look at, and you can do so right here.
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