That bridging workers to a retirement I don't know about. There were meeting held in the summer saying the same thing and I have heard that some or maybe all who took it still have not received any of it. Does anyone of you know about how it is comming along? Just wondering.

How much did this summit cost the taxpayers?

They could have done this thing way, way, way cheaper online.

The technology today is outstanding and there is no longer any reason for these very expensive face to face meetings all the time.

Lifesucks there already were packages offered to workers 55 and older. At our mill 20-30 workers have already left for greeener pastures. Now we have hired 30-40 displaced workers from Mackenzie and NCP to replace them. Down river has also hired around 40. Lostfaith, the online meetings work very well when the players know each other, but there is no substitute for pressing the flesh face to face. I am sure that once relationships are established more cost efficient methods will be used.

"I am sure that once relationships are established more cost efficient methods will be used."

They said that about paper too when words and images were able to be read on monitors and sent through the air around the globe.

"They could have done this thing way, way, way cheaper online"

I've had the "pleasure" of participating in many video and telephone conferences and none of them could hold a candle to what could be done in a face to face meeting. They are fine for run of mill type meetings when you know everyone and the agenda is light, but face to face is still the best way to have serious discussions and to establish networks with new people.

IMHO a conference like this is well worth the money and effort, especially since it was hosted in our community where we get the direct exposure.

Went to it for a day and half. found that I got more out of the interaction with the crowd. But I guess thats what its all about anyway.

the imformation stuff was pretty generic information and some political posturing.

Sure I will never vote NDP. but it was same old information, we have to sell into China. But really, they are hit pretty hard right now.

Businesses from Calgary ?
Explain how it is going to be feasible to have any kind of economic connection to Calgary ???

Vancouver is Calgary's primary supply chain. Vancouver is also Prince George's primary supply chain.

Sounds more like a gathering to once again wave the pogey from a stick, but promise nothing. Give 'em all a welfare cheque and let's all fly home.

Who would not be hit hard if they sold goods to others on credit (I think the US debt held by China is in the US$2+ trillion range) and then are unable to sell new products to those whose debt they hold.

Do they have the capacity to buy at this time?

If China holds US$ 2+ trillion in US debt, obviously the US is NOT "selling" into China anything like the US is "buying" from China.

The Chinese have lots of capacity to 'buy', but just like any other country in their position they don't have any way of "distributing" what they could buy to those who might need or want it.

They could only do that under the current financial system by making those people 'work' again, producing still MORE stuff for sale to the US, before they can claim any imports from the US that they've already worked for.

It just shows the total ridiculouness of trying to FULLY liquidate 'costs' from 'incomes' which are only a PART, and a continually decreasing PART at that, of those 'costs', in each successive cycle of production. It can't be done in China, nor can it be done here, nor anywhere else.