Post by Ducky on Jan 4, 2005 23:39:02 GMT -5
Tue, January 4, 2005
Breaking the silence
By TOM BRODBECK
The trouble with asking most influential business leaders to talk about the obstacles they face doing business in Manitoba is that they're in a bit of a conflict of interest. On the one hand, they want to promote the idea that Manitoba is a great place to live and do business because they need to attract and retain quality people to run profitable enterprises.
But on the other hand, they know there are systematic problems with the province that discourage business investment, including high taxes, excessive government regulation and lopsided labour laws.
Business leaders live and work here and often don't want to rock the boat.
But they know that keeping silent will help perpetuate the status quo, which is ultimately bad for business.
Businesses sometimes work in partnership with governments and they don't want to sour relations with them by being openly critical. In some cases, they don't want government inspectors or other officials breathing down their backs, either, because of what someone said publicly.
Yet they know that if Manitoba's fundamentals don't change, this province will continue to fall behind other jurisdictions.
It's tough to promote your province and be critical of it at the same time.
That's why many of Manitoba's heavy-hitters in the business community don't speak out very often on issues such as taxation, labour laws or government regulation.
It's a tough nut to crack. But it's one I've managed to pry open in a groundbreaking, four-part series that begins tomorrow on doing business in Manitoba.
It includes extensive and candid interviews with some of Manitoba's most influential business leaders -- the people who create the jobs and the wealth in this community that make it possible for us to build roads, schools and hospitals.
Breaking the silence
By TOM BRODBECK
The trouble with asking most influential business leaders to talk about the obstacles they face doing business in Manitoba is that they're in a bit of a conflict of interest. On the one hand, they want to promote the idea that Manitoba is a great place to live and do business because they need to attract and retain quality people to run profitable enterprises.
But on the other hand, they know there are systematic problems with the province that discourage business investment, including high taxes, excessive government regulation and lopsided labour laws.
Business leaders live and work here and often don't want to rock the boat.
But they know that keeping silent will help perpetuate the status quo, which is ultimately bad for business.
Businesses sometimes work in partnership with governments and they don't want to sour relations with them by being openly critical. In some cases, they don't want government inspectors or other officials breathing down their backs, either, because of what someone said publicly.
Yet they know that if Manitoba's fundamentals don't change, this province will continue to fall behind other jurisdictions.
It's tough to promote your province and be critical of it at the same time.
That's why many of Manitoba's heavy-hitters in the business community don't speak out very often on issues such as taxation, labour laws or government regulation.
It's a tough nut to crack. But it's one I've managed to pry open in a groundbreaking, four-part series that begins tomorrow on doing business in Manitoba.
It includes extensive and candid interviews with some of Manitoba's most influential business leaders -- the people who create the jobs and the wealth in this community that make it possible for us to build roads, schools and hospitals.