The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1968, Blaðsíða 21

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
19
This growth of a second industrial
centre in Manitoba will benefit the
Western Manitoba region and the
whole province.
And as I have already said, we need
both the country and the city—(both
working together.
It is a necessity for everyone in our
province. It is needed for a balanced
economy throughout our province so
that all parts of Manitoba are econom-
ically strong. A man walks best if
both his legs are strong. Manitoba will
progress best if both its legs, the city
and the rural areas, are equally strong.
One leg doesn’t do the other leg a
favour. They go forward together.
Everyone in this modern world has
to adjust to changes—and this applies
to rural and urban areas alike. None
of us can sit still—we have to keep mov-
ing to stay in one place. Changes in
technology—new methods of agricul-
tural and industrial production—new
methods of transportation and com-
munication-all must be taken advan-
tage of. It is not enough to simply stay
put—because staying put and standing
pat doesn’t mean you will preserve the
qualities of life you now enjoy—it
means they will be lost.
Development of our jrural areas,
however, is more than a matter of new
industries in country locations. It is a
matter of the development of rural
areas as a whole, with the first initi-
ative coming from the people who live
there.
When we talk about rural develop-
ment as a whole, we have a change in
approach which in my opinion is a
correct one. It is the change that takes
place when the emphasis is placed on
people. What kind of life are the
people providing for themselves and
how can the Government—their own
Government—help them to help them-
selves achieve this good life.
The Government is not a great
White Father sitting in Winnipeg is-
suing orders. It is a body of men who
are elected by yourselves. It acts in
response to your demands. It is not a
vague outside force. Government is a
tool that you can use, or that you can
neglect.
When we talk about the economic
development of urban areas, these
same principles apply. But (the urban
area has this advantage—it already has
a concentration of services, amenities
and population which attract economic
growth of its own. Furthermore, the
urban area has greater resources for
promotion for itself.
This does not mean the Province
should leave the cities alone and
promote rural development. It means
that the efforts of the Government
should always keep a proper balance
in mind and all our citizens must
develop an enlightened attitude that
recognizes the total development re-
quirements throughout our province.
Most success in development in
Manitoba has come about because
people in a community have wanted
to help (themselves and have done
something about it. Early Icelandic
pioneers are a good example of this.
The Spirit of ’70 Campaign which
was launched at the Business Summit
Conference, is an attempt to develop
that same community spirit, but on a
province-wide scale. It is an attempt to
develop an interest in the well-being
of our own province in as many of our
people as possible.
You will be seeing and hearing more
about the Spirit of ’70 campaign. I
would ask your participation in it. We
are all of us interested in building a
better life in Manitoba. Our economic
growth is one of the foundations we
can build that better life on.
How can you, as an individual
Manitoban help us achieve the econ-
omic growth?