While scanning over the comments made on the St. Paul Journal’s Facebook page regarding a photo of the new medical clinic, I became quite interested in the conversation that evolved from the photo – not of the clinic itself but of attracting people to come to St. Paul and economic development in town.
Comments started appearing regarding the types of businesses opening, the number of liquor stores in town, and a perceived lack of recreation and entertainment facilities. As I began typing my own comment, I stopped myself, unsure of how not to offend anyone but wanting to come out clearly with my own thoughts. I realized I would probably need more space to write a clear response. So, I hit the backspace button a few times, and started writing this column.
Although I don’t understand the need for the number of liquor stores that will be operating in St. Paul, and I can easily count the number of times I’ve entered a liquor store in the past year using just the fingers on one hand, I do think it comes down to a very simple logic – there is a demand for the product being sold.
And at the same time, this same logic can be used to explain why there aren’t other types of stores opening their doors to St. Paul residents. I often hear people complaining, especially women, about the lack of clothing stores in St. Paul, but I wonder how in-demand these stores really are. If there was such a market, then there would be at least one or two big chains opening up shop, and the privately owned businesses that are here wouldn’t be struggling to keep their doors open.
In a perfect world, it would be great to have all the stores people feel are missing from the St. Paul marketplace. But, if you only have a need to visit that store occasionally when you are in a bind, then how is that business supposed to be profitable? I completely believe that shopping local is important, and I also understand, as someone who runs a small home-based business myself, that bills have to be paid and a profit has to be made.
As for the town controlling businesses that come into St. Paul, I’m honestly not sure that’s a route anyone wants to take. I personally prefer to live in a society with an open market, where small businesses thrive on their own. I also don’t see how putting rules in place regarding which businesses can open in St. Paul would encourage development; rather I feel this type of restriction would discourage growth.
One comment stated that it was a planning issue on the town’s part that was leading to a lack of certain businesses and an increase in others. Even with extensive planning by the town, if businesses aren’t interested in coming to St. Paul, that planning is worthless.
As for a lack of recreational and entertainment facilities in St. Paul, I really don’t feel like a town with a population of just over 5,000 people needs a multi-million dollar recreation facility. Even a community like Bonnyville, with a very strong oil industry to support this type of facility, operates the C2 Centre at a deficit.
Although I love the thought of having this type of facility nearby, and the events that it could draw, I simply don’t think we have the population base to support it. I wonder if everyone who is in support of a large recreation facility would also be in favour of a large tax increase to pay for the facility.
In the end, the picture that was posted on Facebook asked people for their thoughts on the new medical centre and if it will be worth the $7 million that’s been invested. In my opinion, only time will tell if that investment will pay off. Hopefully we all see an improved local health care system and economic benefits for the entire community.
