Clegg's Corner

High Prairie must expand in order to survive

Reading about it and seeing it are two entirely different things.

A few weeks ago when I drove by Slave Lake the economic development south of the highway was astonishing. Sobey's, Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart are all under construction.

It is an impressive site. Being a High Prairian, I was jealous. Slave Lake is kicking our butt big time. There was a time when High Prairie was bigger than Slave Lake but things have gone terribly, terribly wrong.

It would be unfair to say High Prairie is stagnant. There is growth but it is a slow and steady growth. While that is fine and positive, we can't help but notice that other communities in Alberta are booming economically.

So what has gone wrong? Why aren't we growing at the same rate as Peace River or Slave Lake?

People are being told by their politicians they are trying their best.

Well then, give us some proof. We are being told that efforts are being made but every time a proposed economic development issue comes up (land sale for business) town council runs behind closed doors to discuss it. We are left wondering what's going on.

That's the way town council likes it. When nothing happens, no one is left accountable when dealings are not in the public eye. It's been that way for a long time.

It also leaves the public open for charges of High Prairie being far too "protective" of its current businesses. Someone is driving them away. Is this what is really happening behind closed doors?

In July, council went into camera to discuss a "council issue". Was it economic development? Was it a council issue? In fact, everything is a council issue and should be open to the public. When councilors can't police themselves, there is no hope and the king can rule the kingdom.

The question must be asked: is High Prairie selling itself properly? At the time of this writing, an economic development officer is being proposed. That should tell the citizens in part that the economic development issue is not being properly addressed.

Citizens have to be perplexed. When a person wants to go into business the first thing he wants to do is open the store and make money. Yet, the company constructing the new building beside High Prairie Turbo told town council earlier this summer that the town was the "most uncooperative" he has come across. He also added High Prairie has a "soiled reputation" when it comes to economic development.

Why? Rather than dwelling the past, let's ask ourselves this. What is being done to change it?

Town council is promising us that things are changing. The tax forgiveness on new construction is a step in the right direction.

But is council selling this idea to potential business?

Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire chose to build in Slave Lake rather than High Prairie. The facts suggest otherwise. High Prairie has a larger population in its trading area and we forgive taxes for two years. We have almost every service Slave Lake has to offer.

So why did they choose to go to Slave Lake? Who is selling our town to prospective business? Rather, who is not selling our town to prospective business?

Maybe that's why it's time to hire an economic development officer.

To be fair to council, they don't have the time to commit to bringing in business. They are also not developers. We have a gas station attendant, a car salesman, electrician and lifelong civil servants on council. It's hardly a resume for stirring economic development.

What council does best is complain. Some even blame South Peace News. Yet, our sister paper, the Slave Lake Lakeside Leader, reports all the crime the same way we do and their community is booming. Blaming the press for all their woes is becoming very stale for High Prairie's council but it does makes them feel good.

It's time for council to quit blaming others for their mistakes and get on with the job of promoting our community. The same old song and dance is becoming tiresome. An economic development officer is a good place to start.