Needed: a local think-tank #nlpoli

Anyone who was paying attention to these things has known for about 25 years that the province would face a demographic crunch starting ‘round about now.

Anyone who has been reading Bond Papers for any length of time will know that demographics have been a big issue your humble e-scribbler has been banging on about pretty much since the beginning in January 2005. Go over to labradore and you will find what is known in the professional analyst trade as a shitload of posts, graphs and other sorts of information about demographics.

Collectively, we’ve got a good handle on both the magnitude of the problem and the implications. The problems are already here and the deliberate lack action by successive provincial governments means we are substantially behind where we need to be to cope with the consequences of a rapidly aging population.

So it is that after studying all the stuff that people have already produced about the problems the province is facing, the good folks at the Harris Centre at Memorial University have concluded that we need – brace yourself – “additional research” in order to “get ahead” of these changes.

Ye frackin’ gods.

Harris Centre: A prosperity plan for Newfoundland and Labrador

Mark this one on your calendar:

“Over the past ten years, Newfoundland and Labrador has gone from poverty to prosperity, all due to revenues from non-renewable natural resources, especially petroleum. How should we spend this new-found – but temporary – wealth? Should we pay down the debt, invest in infrastructure, increase program spending in health, education and other sectors, or create a heritage fund for future generations?

Join Dr. Wade Locke, professor of Economics at Memorial University, in a lively discussion about how we should invest our new wealth for the greatest benefit of all citizens. He will be accompanied by three panellists representing each of the public, social and business sectors:

• Lana Payne is the president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour
• Bruce Pearce is the community development coordinator with the St. John's Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness
• Jo Mark Zurel is the chair of the St. John's Board of Trade

Free parking in Lot # 18 (immediately west of the Clock Tower, Building 12 on the map)

Free admission, reception to follow.”

- srbp -