爱城经济及展望 （转贴）

WST

Ron Gilbertson, president and CEO of Economic Development Edmonton Corp gave his presentation recently on 2008 economic forecast seminar. Followings are the key points:

·        If the Edmonton – Calgary corridor was a country it would be the WORLD'S #1 economy today.
& c( r5 h) Y0 y& \& y* A9 a·        The world is noticing Edmonton.  He feels like the prettiest girl in the room when he goes to presentations.  He referenced just one article from a United Kingdom financial magazine titled “City's potential is without peer...best economic potential of large cities in North America”
" ~$ ]- O8 c8 R8 L7 r% S·        Stressed that his figure for $200 billion in major projects in our service area is on the low side and that it could easily be higher.
& d7 e: J7 {6 Z& x% ^6 Q) D·        He pointed out that Edmonton’s GDP growth will be slowing down to around 4 – 5% down from 5.8%  which still ranks it as an over heated economy
$ j! b0 i( j, S·        Cited housing affordability compared to other major Canadian markets is still favorable with affordability under Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto. Vancouver is almost double the cost of Edmonton.  He made a reference to affordability in Europe being at 100 – 200% of income where Edmonton is at 42% as a comparison for standard of living.
·        He noted that if Alberta goes ahead with its Oil and Gas value added strategy that would add another 179 Billion in major projects for Alberta.  “No place in the world can match our economic environment” he added.
·        U.S economy expected to decline in world prominence as India and China rise and Alberta is well positioned as an “economic super power to take advantage of that”
. X  j) n5 ~5 y, ^7 B0 \$ U·        Edmonton is becoming an industrial power and ranks extremely high in the world among comparable cities in terms of economy, health, education, environment, and culture
% o; k8 r. u( Z  E- I5 _9 F·        It ranks poorly in safety (something I’ve ranted on), urban transportation (something else I’ve ranted on) and image (something I’ll rant on later)

Homework

Edmonton 还不象一个大城市的原因之一：小家子气的道路网络和公共交通。
- C  t/ @  ~( P; A, H* c3 Z不仅市府当局不把这当回事，身边好些老市民也不把这当回事，却总是抱怨人来得太多。
然而，对于一个城市而言，人口增加是发展的一个重要阶梯。