How bout HEMP,food,fiber,oils,building materials,all it needs is earth,water and sun nothing more….it is the future…when there are no more trees to cut down.This grows in 4months as a tree 20+ years..

“So when we take a look at what we have to offer from a resources perspective in the northern part of the province, it (forestry) really is the driving force and the engine in my estimation that makes this province grow.”

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I get that he was speaking at a Natural Resources Forum, but with all due respect to Mayor Hall, how does it benefit PG to seemingly not recognize the reality of what is contributing to growth in the Province?

What is the medium to long-term plan? What is the vision? Where is the effort to tap into what is going on everywhere else in the Province?

Here is just one source of information, there are many others out there should you choose to do the research (have to remove the space after //):

http:// credbc.ca/role-energy-sector-bcs-economy/

It really is unfortunate that even elected officials can’t even do a little research . Forestry in negative growth and is a very small part even in pg . Small , medium businesses , education and medical is where the butter is .

“It really is unfortunate that even elected officials can’t even do a little research . Forestry in negative growth and is a very small part even in pg . Small , medium businesses , education and medical is where the butter is . ”

I would strongly disagree. Forestry continues to be pivotal for PG. Many of the other larger employers wouldn’t be here if we didn’t have the forestry jobs. Forestry jobs increased our population to where we could have the luxury of post-secondary institutions and the expansion of medical services for the north. Without forestry, we don’t have a lot. Small/Medium sized business feed off the economic spin offs of forestry.

Sure we have other factors and forestry isnt as important as it was for PG in the 60s and 70s, but its still very much apart of our economy.

Pgjohn if you believe that , then you obviously did not follow the credbc.ca link provided and neither has christy or lyn .

Ataloss Hall was referring to Northern BC. The link only looks at BC as a whole, not broken down into regions. Metro Vancouver is not BC.

I do understand that Surrey is almost ten times larger than is PG . We’ll get the real numbers after the census . If you think/know that forestry is the driving force of the North . Where are your numbers . Your assertion implys that the sectors (forestry ) dominance begins at the borders of the GVRD . Finance , I bet is on par with forestry in PG in terms of dollars generated . Finance is king of the hill in BC .

From Wikipedia .

The economy of Prince George in the first decade of the 21st century has come to be dominated by service industries

What do you think those service industries are servicing.

The natural resource industry.

Whether it be logging ,sawmilling ,pulp & paper ,mining , oil & gas.

Prince George is the service center for Central & Northern BC.

The provincial government also has Prince George as its hub.

For government services.

Without your primary industries you cannot afford government services.

There are estimated to be about 4,500 businesses in Prince George. When searching the city’s business Directory and not selecting anything, 450 businesses are listed.

Who are the biggest employers in Prince George? UNBC, CNC, School District 57, City of Prince George, Northern Health, Provincial Government, Canfor.

An unemployment rate like our current 7.0% will equate to approximately 3800 declared unemployed. If 84% of the businesses in Prince George hired just one person, unemployment would be eliminated in this area.

Do you see the list of largest employers? Do you see any that produce a product?
The Biggest employers are all some form government service, except for Canfor. In other words, this region is no longer a production oriented economy. It is a government services hub, plus the remnants of the forestry industry.

Ataloss Hall was referring to Northern BC

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I’m not sure he was. Read the quote again:

“So when we take a look at what we have to offer from a resources perspective in the northern part of the province, it (forestry) really is the driving force and the engine in my estimation that makes this province grow.” Mayor Hall says it is important for the federal government to “understand, what a benefit and what an economic driver northern BC is.”

A couple of thing stand out. The first is where he says “makes this province grow”. He’s clearly trying to link the forestry industry to provincial growth. The second is where is says “what an economic driver northern BC is”. Again, he’s clearly alluding to his belief that the economy of northern BC is driving growth in other areas of the province.

Now, obviously the resource sector is important. It creates wealth and it employs allot of people. Nobody is denying that. Nor is anyone denying that it is what caused PG’s historic growth. That is without question.

The problem is that PG isn’t growing anymore. That’s a fact. The population has been stagnant for a long time. Job reductions in the resource sector have been offset by job increases in the education and health sector. All the while the population in PG has remained the same, or even shrunk. The local economy there has become less reliant on forestry and more diversified, with education, health care and other services picking up the slack. That’s a good thing.

What I don’t get is why that change doesn’t seem to be formally recognized. I think it would go a long ways towards developing a more proactive attitude with respect to the city’s future and even it’s attractiveness to outside investors. The city should be aggressively marketing the fact that it has diversified and that it’s economy is no longer a one trick pony.

How can you possibly compete with other cities for investment, new residents, etc., if you aren’t willing to acknowledge the reality of your community and its future prospects?

@NMG bravo . I wish I were as eloquent . That’s how a life is best lived , by being diversified . I’m surprised they didn’t mention the fur trade . I’d say show city counsel a pie chart with really loud colours . Why not be proud of having become diversified . I am . There’s really nothing like stead income . I’m pretty sure the sevice industries are happy providing services to people that aren’t laid off months at a time . Like the mine is shut down . Like the bush is on fire . Prince George should be proud . You’re no tumbler ridge . Their days a numbered .

I was just thinking . Mr.PG could use an upgrade perhaps a stethoscope and mortarboard and tassel . The log thing is kind of over done .

Ataloss, please tell me your still long this Obama inspired market.

You have no idea as to how the markets work do you ? Please tell me that you at least have a cash account and TFSA . If you are really worried about me then don’t . Do you know what a Tailing-Stop limit is ? And which part of the market is inspired by the POTUS ? And thank you for not calling yourself Nazdaq .

Wow big financial jargon ataloss. Do you know what a option is? Do you know what a CDS? Do you know what a convertible hedge is? Blah blah. I’ve forgotten more about markets than you think you know. I’m not really concerned about you. You were the one some time ago bragging about your investments and praising Obama’s(potus) brilliant economic management. You posted with excitement Yellens 25bp raise. Just was hoping to get your insight to currant events.

PS, do you really think your somehow sophisticated because you have a cash and tfsa account…..really? As well, there is no z in nazdaq. But I’m sure you knew that.

NMG:-” Job reductions in the resource sector have been offset by job increases in the education and health sector. All the while the population in PG has remained the same, or even shrunk. The local economy there has become less reliant on forestry and more diversified, with education, health care and other services picking up the slack. That’s a good thing.”
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It may be a ‘good thing’ except there isn’t yet a lot of money coming in from abroad in regards to ‘education, health care, and other services.’ Perhaps in the future, to a greater degree, there may be. But right now that’s no where near what is still brought in by the export of forest products. And we are still in a situation where we need, ( or believe we need, at least), a steady flow of export credits to live. The only other current alternative being a further expansion of loan credits, and a lot of people are already about up to the limit of what they can handle that way.

You didn’t answer my questions . POTUS brilliant management . 5% unemployment rate for three quarters . Three hundred thousand jobs created monthly for months . Under two bucks a gallon gas . Housing making a big come back . An economy that is doing so good since the Great Recession that interest rates can move off emergency low rates . Don’t bet against the USA . If you do you will lose . Oh yes I almost for got . The world is buying USA . The U.S. Dollar is soaring . Have you got any ?

93 million Americans not in the work force. If you believe the unemployment data, you will lose. Banks loaded up with oil debt, the next subprime. How many states and cities are on life support? Civil racial unrest. The strong dollar is killing their exports. People aren’t buying the USA, they are buying a reserve currency. The south west states have no water. Their debt levels will take centuries to repay. The ones who really benefited from low interest rates was wall street. Sound familiar? The QE programs created billions in profits for the banks, all with printed money. Very little hit main street. That’s never been done before. There will be payback for that at some point. The market breadth that has driven the market was in a hand full of tech stocks, most at ridiculous multiples. Sound familiar? And that’s just the USA. China is a house of cards, Europe is screwed.

I used to think like you. Don’t bet against the yankees. That all changed in 2008. But you go girl. Load up. We’ll likely see a bounce off this blow off and the herd will feel vindicated. That’s what makes markets. I’ll check back with you in a month or so. Happy earnings season.

Don’t worry about Ataloss his stock portfolio is just as imaginary as his imaginary solar system.

So all of you that are saying forestry is no longer a player up north, is that what you are all saying. Just what do you think will happen if all forestry shut down in the north? Except for welfare how many government services would stick around at the size they are now if forestry walked? Do you really the service industry to just bobble along with out a shake up?

So you folks are saying if the pulp mills and sawmills around PG shutdown there would not be noticed in PG? Really, WOW!!!!!

Don’t judge others by your own inadequacies seamutt .