The fact that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Mark Carney as chair of a task force on economic growth is a clear indication that Liberal economic policies have not worked out well. Postmedia columnist Tasha Kheiriddin suggests that if things don’t work out well with Carney as economic adviser, Trudeau will blame him and poison his future leadership chances.
That is unlikely, as this would poison Trudeau’s chances as well, since he appointed Carney.
It is hard for Carney not to benefit from this appointment. With his considerable financial and business acumen, he is likely to come up with improvements to the present economic situation in Canada.
Regardless of the outcome of the next federal election, he will be seen as the man who gave the Liberals a fighting chance. The only caveat is that Carney sits on several corporate boards, which will raise questions of whether he is acting in the interest of shareholders or the Canadian public.
I am sure the Conservatives will scrutinize this carefully.
Peter Mannistu, Calgary
Little ‘common sense’ shown
The Green Line LRT project is not a “boondoggle” as stated by Common Sense Calgary. The undermining of the Green Line by successive UPC governments is a terrible stunt. It panders to a few wealthy, penny-wise, pound-foolish business icons, and is ignorant of the short and long-term growth demands of Calgarians.
It is also an overt attack on civic government, an illogical but politically motivated criticism of the surging NDP under Calgary’s former mayor, and an attack on thoughtful, environmentally aware, forward-thinking Calgarians. (Just look at how many cars would be pulled from the road with the fully operational, complete Green Line).
Calgary council needs to tell Premier Danielle Smith and the UCP to pound salt and damn the torpedoes. The only boondoggle is what the Smith government is foisting on us.
This absurd intervention is consistent with UCP policy. They just don’t have any concern for the social contract and the common good, let alone the reputation of Calgary as one of the most livable and desirable places in the world. And we are not even talking about what has been invested and the jobs that are on the docket. Common Sense, what common sense?
What short-sightedness. The present and future voters will not forget this. Pay for it now or pay for it later.
Charles (Carlos) Leskun, Calgary
Rising costs matter
I’m glad the Alberta government stopped the Green Line. City council appeared to be prepared to build it at any cost, potentially bankrupting the city.
The original plan was for 46 kilometres and 29 stations for $4.6 billion. That averaged around $158.6 million per station. The latest plan, which was stopped, was for 10 kilometres and seven stations for $6.2 billion. We’ve seen how the project estimates have escalated, so the $6.2 billion was likely low. That could’ve resulted in a per-station average cost of over $1 billion each. To complete the original 29 stations could exceed $30 billion.
No project warrants being built at any cost.
I wonder how the cost/benefit analysis of the seven-station Green Line compares to alternatives such as sticking with bus transit.
You can run a lot of buses for a long time for a billion dollars.
Gerry Brunka, Calgary