Should we be Striving for GDP Growth?

As was stated in this column last week, growth is considered the primary indicator of economic health in pretty much all countries, whether communist, socialist, or capitalist. This seems to be normal thinking.

But not everywhere. New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has deprioritized GDP growth in favour of improving wellbeing

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What’s the Alternative to Growth?

For us, living in the 21^st century, growth is normal. Our families grow, our homes are bigger, our city grows, our province grows in terms of wealth and population, our country’s GDP grows. Our institutions grow: our schools at all levels, our churches, our megaplex. As far as we are concerned, this is normal. We like it this way.

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What is climate resilience?

Last month the Manitoba Government committed $33million to support ‘damage prevention and climate resilience projects’ across the province. I read the media release with interest.

These projects include flood-proofing roads, upgrading sewage lift stations, backup generators and drainage systems.

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Farm Tour Anyone?

Keeping food costs low seems to be the emphasis of our current food system. The weekly flyers coming from the local supermarkets focus on price, and consumers scour these carefully to see what products are on sale and where the price is lowest. Largely this determines where consumers do their shopping. This is the way our free market system is intended to operate.

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Returning to Normal on a Full Earth

Capture of the Atlantic northwest cod stock in million tonnesIt could be said that we are consumers, all of us. We consume food, but we also consume many other things, some necessary, some discretionary.

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