Calgary - the 5th "Most Livable City" in the World. Nice.
Well.
Consider for a moment.
In 2006, Stephen Harper became the leader of this wonderful country, taking over the reins from a Liberal government, who had managed during a decade of never-before-seen prosperity, to take their party from being described as Canada's "Natural Governing Party", to a disgrace.
Then, almost immediately upon taking possession of the keys to 24 Sussex Drive, the world plunged into the worst economic recession since the 1930's, beginning in 2007 and continuing until the present day. And this was laid at the feet of our new Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.
There is a saying that goes, "Adversity introduces a man to himself."
I have given the government a hard ride this past week over the stupidity in the Bev Oda situation - and I think that criticism is well deserved.
But today, we awake to news that in a broad internationally respected survey of "livability" in the world, three of the top ten "livable" cities in the world are in Canada. According to the 2011 report of The Economist Intelligence Unit, the top 10 most livable cities in the world are:
1. VancouverSo.
2. Melbourne, Australia
3. Vienna, Austria
4. Toronto
5. Calgary
6. Finland, Helsinki
7. Sydney, Australia
8. Perth, Australia
9. Adelaide, Australia
10. Auckland, New Zealand
Three of the top 10 cities in the world are right here in the great white north.
How were we doing back in 2006?
Vancouver was 3rd. No other Canadian cities were in the top 10.
Which isn't to say that things were bad, internationally speaking, in Canada back in 2006. Toronto was 15. Ottawa was 18.
But the point is that in the midst of the most trying economic crisis since the great depression, the cream rose to the top.
Adversity introduced our Prime Minister to our citizens.
And, maybe as important, it introduced our citizens to themselves. Because if in Canada we reacted like petulant, spoiled children who refused to accept that playtime was over, no doubt we would have booted out Stephen Harper some time ago.
But we didn't.
So.
Today take some pride in knowing that in staying the course, in having some patience with a government who didn't offer us a quick fix, our country is doing well, and is, in many respects, the envy of the world.
Well done Stephen Harper.
Well done Canada.
7 comments:
Hear Hear!
o/t kinda, but something else to be proud about
Who does Obama trust....Harper,
read it here:
Gary Doer,
Canada’s ambassador to the U.S
Q: What does President Obama think of Canada?
A: The bottom line is that the President and his people trust the Prime Minister.
He’s a straight shooter, he tells it like it is.
I know from people in the White House—and I’ve heard from very senior people I know personally in the White House—that [before meetings with other foreign leaders] they get a read from the Prime Minister about how the meeting is going to shake down and how each participant is going to deal with an issue.
When you are a new President you don’t know how a meeting is going to develop and how different people are going to participate on an issue of interest to the U.S.
That has been something that has been valued in the U.S. When you have a powerful person going into their first meeting it’s useful to have someone you trust going into those meetings.
They trust his nose on how issues will develop at the meetings.
http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/02/22/on-border-security-the-oil-sands-and-what-barack-obama-really-thinks-of-stephen-harper/
Canada has been moving up while others have been faltering.
If we can continue to find some balance between personal responsibility and government regulation the future here will remain bright.
I hope the pipelines for the Oil sands get the green light. The revenue and jobs will go a long way in lifting the West and ROC to balance their books.
I find it interesting that 8/10 are in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. All commonwealth countries. In all fairness though I don't like ratings like this because there are a lot of great cities around the world that don't get included.
In all honesty, I have no idea how Toronto made the top 10. I live near T.O. and there are many, many, issues that would make me want to live somewhere else. To name a few: taxes, cost of living, traffic, etc.
reigns? REIGNS????
Yeah, Yeah Lyle.. my bad..
Post a Comment