We are officially in the throes of an election race.
One issue most candidates have already touched on, at least for the Town of Athabasca, is economic development. Some want to bring box stores to town; others want to abolish the business registry so there’s less red tape for the little guys.
There’s no way to know if any of these measures will be implemented or if they will work. What’s certain is that economic difficulties, at least for some residents, are on the way: Athabasca University has announced more layoffs, both temporary and permanent.
What we have to remember is that while a council can take meaningful steps towards economic prosperity, no single body (the new four-year term notwithstanding) can clear economic hurdles in a single bound.
Economic development may quickly become a top election issue, but we must remind ourselves that it will not be so quickly resolved.
