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nanaimodailynews.com
@NanaimoDaily
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016
EDITORIAL
Canada needs to adapt and shift its economic focus W elcome to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a time when robots, artificial intelligence, 3D manufacturing, smart factories, drones and driverless cars will alter the very fabric of society. This revolution, already upon us, was the subject of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, where the world’s political and industry leaders discussed how national economies can adjust to the new realities. Well, it’s not by building an economy on resource extraction, or, in the case of Canada, waiting for the price of oil to rise, that’s for sure. It’s not that oil, gas, lumber and minerals won’t continue to be important in the intermediate term, but ultimately Canada’s economy
must evolve to serve the opportunities of the new era or be left behind. In his speech at the economic forum, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau showed he understands the challenges of the future. He told the forum Canada is much more than its natural resources. It’s a place with a booming high-tech sector, advanced manufacturing, an educated workforce, elite educational facilities and a tolerant society. In a sense, he was trying to rebrand Canada as the perfect place for companies whose futures depend on the new economy. Mr. Trudeau made a point of distinguishing his Liberal government from his predecessor, former prime minister Stephen Harper, whom he said was preoccupied with resource
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Nanaimo Daily News is published by Black Press Ltd., B1, 2575 McCullough Rd., Nanaimo, B.C. V9S 5W5. The Daily News and its predecessor the Daily Free Press have been serving Nanaimo and area since 1874.
Farewell offered to the ‘Nanaimo Daily News’
Publisher/Subscriptions: Andrea Rosato-Taylor 250-729 -4248 Managing Editor: Philip Wolf 250-729-4240
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extraction. While Mr. Harper said selling oil to China was a national priority, Mr. Trudeau spoke in Davos about climate change, technology and the importance of good leadership. To be fair, Mr. Harper was aware the economy needed to adjust to what he called “major transformations.” And in last fall’s election, he promised to spend $100 million to promote innovation if his Conservative government was re-elected. Trudeau, however, promised during a Winnipeg campaign stop to spend nearly $1 billion to support the country’s startup and innovation sectors. There’s been a debate ever since on whether funding should go directly to individual businesses or to support the establishment of so-called tech
hubs, which are places where innovative businesses can share ideas, office space, collaborate and, presumably, invent and make gadgets and technology that can be sold around the world. The bedrock for the latest technological revolution, moreover, exists in cities, particularly progressive centres with amenities that appeal to young entrepreneurs, such as hip nightspots, rapid transit and cool neighbourhoods. It’s also well-known that the competition for innovative ideas will be fought between cities, rather than between countries, another reason to bolster the country’s municipalities. Every leap forward in industrial and technological achievement has improved standards of living and
incomes, even if it has come with unwanted side effects, such as global warming and pollution. The latest revolution is also expected to improve quality of life, but it is unlikely to lift all boats equally. Canada will have to refocus its economic development strategies to capitalize on the increased pace of change. Mr. Trudeau has, at least, shown that he understands what is at stake. Whether he has the leadership qualities to transform Canada is an entirely different question. — THE CANADIAN PRESS (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)
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I was quite surprised and saddened with the news that the Nanaimo Daily News was going out of business especially after the great effort you all put into revitalizing the newspaper with such professional initiative. I will truly miss our daily paper, not only for the well chosen news items, but especially the editorials and the letters to the editor. You have a very capable staff, and I am sure that this closure must be pretty rough on them as it will probably be very difficult even for top notch newspaper people to find employment in a media that is fast becoming a victim of high tech times. My heart goes out to you all, and I wish you all the best that the future has to offer. I speak with many people each day and without exception they all feel exactly as I do. Never mind “have a good day,” have a good life. Farewell. John A. Martin Nanaimo
Closure of paper is big loss to the community It is profoundly sad news to hear of another regional resource getting the axe (Nanaimo Daily News to cease operations Jan. 29). While my sympathies go out to all those dedicated employees now looking for work, I feel a great loss for our community. How will local residents hear about events to attend and what relevant news is happening? When the Oceanside Star weekly newspaper in Parksville was terminated last spring, many avid readers and especially letter writers, were shocked to discover that the website was also obliterated. This meant that no longer could anyone access the cache of articles located just a
click away, thereby losing research opportunities and local history itself. And now with only one paper in our community, many residents say that the remaining paper just isn’t working as hard without the presence of competition. I sincerely hope that someone with clout, with heart, possesses the wisdom and vision to maintain the valuable Nanaimo Daily News website for the future. What will happen to all of the archived hard copies going back 141 years? Gord Byers Parksville
Loss of the city’s daily newspaper is a sad day It’s a sad day for Nanaimo and area with the announcement of the end of the Daily News after a 141-plus years. To think our vibrant city will
be represented by a twice-weekly newspaper is, to be quite frank, appalling and embarrassing. In my opinion it is a step backward, and I for one will sorely miss my daily read. I would like to personally commend the staff of the Daily News for the many years of great reporting, commentary, editorials, entertainment, announcements, fundraising efforts, and so much more. I’m sure I speak for thousands of folks when I say thank you, and good luck to all of you in the future. Lorrie Hayden Nanaimo
Residents will miss the paper’s obituary page As a small business person in Nanaimo I was an advertiser in this newspaper for many years and have
a somewhat sentimental attachment. However, my real concern is for those unfortunate Harbour City citizens who will now have difficulty obtaining access to knowing who have left this world and who are still ‘hanging in there.’ The suffering of citizens deprived of reading obituaries could be tantamount in this day and age to that of teenagers being deprived of their cellphones — calamitous! Graeme Roberts Brentwood Bay Letters must include your hometown and a daytime phone number for verification purposes only. Letters must include your first name (or two initials) and last name. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, taste, legality and for length. Unsigned letters and letters of more than 300 words will not be accepted. Email to: yourletters@nanaimodailynews.com