Love Development, Hate Development

I remember sympathizing with the plight of landowners – and their advocates – during the widening of Chebucto Rd in 2008.

The flash point of the protests was big news for our somewhat dozy city, yet I recall my reflections at the time being marked by a sense of futility.

On the one hand, I felt that the city’s desire to improve flow on the Armdale Rotary was a foolish idea. Perhaps others can weigh in here, but I know that it still isn’t fun trying to navigate either Chebucto Road or the Armdale Rotary at Rush hour. Even if, as the city asserted in their case for widening, that 300 more cars can get through there at peak hours – has that really helped the situation? Some light research (okay, Googling) doesn’t reveal much. Anecdotal evidence only thus far – mine.

Now on a different tack, you might think that more mass transit and some encouragement to avoid driving into the peninsula and/or downtown whatsoever would be ideal.

That would be great, but problem is – we have this wonderful legacy of ..a non-legacy. Namely, the fact that there hasn’t been much for urban planning here until very recently.

Too many people have decided the Suburbs are for them, or their wallets did. We have this sprawl, that recently has been served by cloning Bayers Lake with the recent developments of Dartmouth Crossing, and the Bedford Common. Not a bad idea to serve the satellite or bedroom communities that have popped up, but they do nothing to help increase density and reduce travel into and out of peninsular Halifax.

The point is, even if HRM might sprawl out in geographic size similar to some of the bigger cities in Canada, the population just isn’t there. You can’t make a case for expanding Metro Transit as much as we might all like.

I know I for one sure miss the SkyTrain in Vancouver. If we quadrupled our population (Greater Vancouver had over 2 million people as of 2006) maybe we could have a SkyTrain too. Or a “fast ferry”? We’ll have to wait and see what the survey says as far as possible solutions to the transit scenario are concerned.

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Now to change the tone somewhat.

Some people have said to me that our economy is insulated somewhat from the ups and downs that some of the bigger Canadian cities experience, especially in the labour market. We don’t quite get the booms, but it doesn’t often go completely bust here  either. I know personally, that it’s a bittersweet message. We lose a lot of our best young people to other markets due to a lack of variety in the jobs available.

Often the money in the jobs that are here is lacking, frankly. That doesn’t help.

It’s the same scenario whether you’re working in trades, or if you’re a university graduate with a large debt load to service in those conditions. It’s certainly on my mind at times as I hang off the side of the new RCMP HQ in Burnside, installing sealed unit glass. I make a significant amount less working here as I did in points western.

To make my own situation as efficient and cost effective as possible, I’ve moved onto penisular Halifax, I only drive my small 30 mpg (average) coupe to work, and I walk for everything else. The Quinpool Rd area is fantastic for that, and I love it.

Before I bring all of the above points together into something cogent, I will say – I’m fortunate to have a decent job with great benefits. With what is happening in the world economy in recent years, we all should be “circling the wagons” somewhat, and trying to get our expenses and debt in order. Oh, and don’t get too comfortable.

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So, how is it exactly that we move forward? Since we still seem to be caught up  in this collective deception (albeit in our own way) that we must have economic growth to succeed or prosper as a society – what do we do? How do we fill all this “empty space” in HRM? Whether it’s through retaining our best and brightest, attracting qualified immigrants, or even shifting the migration patterns withiin this country from West to East – is there one magic solution?

Can we do it in an environmentally sustainable manner while we’re at it?

I think the closest thing to one magic solution is the $35 billion in shipbuilding contracts that several prominent shipyards across Canada are competing for. You might have heard about it. If you haven’t, welcome back from under your rock. Here’s what our charming Mayor, Peter Kelly had to say about it last week. Here’s the provincial government’s cheer-leading.

You can find a lot of articles on the competition across the country. Differing perspectives and reasons abound why specific yards should get the main $25 billion dollar contract – the best summary I can think of is this:

Since we in Nova Scotia were collectively ..railroaded in 1867 – when all of our economic activity on the eastern seaboard was curtailed, and the money starting heading west to “Upper Canada” (I could make another blog post about this alone, but will leave it alone for now..) Has there been a better opportunity to help this region recover? Not just Halifax, but the province and region as a whole? I don’t think so. Keep your fingers crossed.

Signs are pointing to another downward spiral for the world economy. This time the EU would seem to be the catalyst – they have reached a critical moment and if they don’t get their economic issues sorted out, look out.

The shipbuilding contract – even the smaller $8 billion one would help insulate us in this region. What happens if we get one of them?

The HRM will start adding people. It will retain it’s young workforce, attract other Canadians to our wonderful region for a change, and qualified immigrants will want to come here in increasing numbers. Consider it an upward spiral, a catalyst for this region hopefully regaining it’s rightful economic place within our confederation.

As long as we maintain our participation in the capitalist, corporate driven model, this is the best thing that could happen.

Then you just might finally be able to get an Express Bus or other form of efficient, rapid transit from the nether regions of Suburbia to Downtown – or to the shipyards perhaps?

Hopefully it doesn’t require the need to widen Bayers Road, which perhaps won’t do anything but cause a repeat of the mess in 2008. Can’t we do better?

Thanks for reading..