Letters to the Editor

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Letter of the Day

Business benefits everyone

Posted: 10/12/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Archives Development officials along with Mayor Sam Katz unveil Polo Park plans in June.

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In following the numerous stories the Free Press has published recently over Shindico's involvement with city hall, from the fire-hall land swap to its property-management contracts, I have to question why this argument is so one-sided.

What began as a query into how local government decisions are made seems to be turning into a quest to make a very successful local developer somehow look bad for doing what it is simply its business to do. And this business benefits everyone.

I wonder what Shindico contributes to the tax base in Winnipeg? This tax base is what pays for recreation facilities, water treatment, snow-clearing, sidewalks, garbage removal -- things that impact peoples' lives every day.

I don't know how much money developers such as Shindico add to the coffers of the City of Winnipeg, but I am pretty sure we would not want them investing their dollars elsewhere.

Somehow, the new Target store became secondary news this week, even though it will generate taxes that the city can use for many projects. Beyond that, how many people might visit Winnipeg rather than head to Grand Forks to spend their dollars? Those people will buy gas, stay in a hotel and maybe watch a hockey game, because they now have greater choice close to home.

Developers and governments have been involved in public-private partnerships for years, and thank goodness they have. Crumbling infrastructure and increasing costs to build bridges or police stations or fire halls have forced city hall to look for new and innovative ways to finance these things that we need and that will have a positive impact on our quality of life.

One way of doing this is to increase the tax base by encouraging development. Another is to simply increase taxes.

Which would most citizens prefer?

JEFF BEREZA

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 12, 2012 A13

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