Blog
Why do we need the AEGD?
by Richard Koroscil
President, Hamilton International Airport
Hamilton needs jobs. Everyone knows the loss of work in the manufacturing sector has hit us hard over the last several years, and that has had a huge impact on all of us. Our property taxes are higher. Our university graduates are leaving the city to find work elsewhere. And every single day, 30,000-40,000 more of us leave the city for work than come in. That means revenue lost – and it’s not good for the environment either.
The AEGD is one way we can reverse this trend. It’s not the only answer – we also need to develop our brownfields, downtown, industrial areas and more. But what the AEGD can do is provide approximately 20,000-30,000 new jobs. And every single one of those jobs means another person who will shop downtown, attend theatre, go to restaurants, and use our lawyers and doctors. They’ll pay taxes, too. So it’s good for everyone.
The jobs that the AEGD will generate are in the professional, scientific and technical services, advanced manufacturing, wholesale trade and other. They’re different from what you’d find in the downtown, so it’s not taking anything from our core. They are higher paying jobs, and will attract university graduates from here, around the country, and around the world. That’s why I believe we need the AEGD. It really is a great opportunity for the city, and everyone that lives here.
Great summary, Richard!
This is not about choosing between say “brownfields” and “greenfields”, or between “sub-urban” versus “urban” development at all, nor “sprawl” versus the “Downtown”.
We absolutely do need to aggressively develop our older underutilized industrial sites as expiditously as we reasonably can, particularly in the North-east of the City where the infrastructure is already in place – no argument at all there.
But, we also have to be realistic!
Frankly, the harsh reality is that many, if not most, employers just have no interest is such sites, and we are missing out on many badly needed employment opportunities for our City because we just do not have enough inventory of the kinds of suitable shovel ready lands that many employers do need for their operations.
It is a free market economy!
Rightly or wrongly, we need to attract employers. We can not dictate to our clients (i.e potential employers that everyone agrees that we do need to attract to this City) where they have to locate, nor what kind of properties they will need, and must buy. If we try, frankly they will simply leap frog over us, as has happened so many times in the past, paying their business taxes and supplying their jobs to other jurisdictions.
It is all about balance!
We need a wide variety of sites. The AEGD will provide us with the overdue diversity of inventory of locations that we need to be successful.
When there is a development opportunity that is well-studied and well-founded, will help to create jobs and increase the tax base, I think it is great for Hamilton.
However, it isn’t a matter of abandoning the current projects on the table; it is a combination of them that will continue to build momentum and bring success. There are other communities out there (like Brantford just up the highway) growing and attracting new jobs and Hamilton can’t miss the boat – we need to be able to attract larger head offices and clean manufacturing jobs to take us to the next level. This development may help us do just that.
Hamilton International Airport is an integral part of the Hamilton community. By building the proposed AEGD, we will be establishing ourselves (Hamilton) as a place to discover. I firmly believe that the AEGD will not only further establish our city as a place to visit but also provide the Hamilton community with some much needed employment opportunities.
I think it’s important to remember that the development of the airport works hand and hand with the creation of jobs. New employers will need people to fulfill the day-to-day demands of their companies. Hamilton is one of the only cities, of its size, that doesn’t have an airport that is able to support the needs of the global community. I believe this development will help boost Hamilton’s economy as well as contribute to the overall morale of the city.
Kudos, Richard!
Twice a year I travel to Chicago and Trinidad—the amount of families travel to the same destinations it is not funny—why do you not have flights from hi to Chicago–or to the Caribbean? we always fly from Buffalo USA,so we will not have to go to Pearson.
Every person from Burlington ON to the border flies out of Buffalo..USA
I am the marketing manager for the Hamilton International Airport (HIA). I appreciate your interest and comment regarding the air service currently available at HIA.
We are aware that there is a need for flights to Chicago and points in the Caribbean, and are working hard to attract new airlines and develop new air service to points in Canada, the United States and beyond.
I welcome you sign up for our monthly e-newsletter at http://www.flyhi.ca/newsletter/ to receive up-to-date information on any new services or airlines that will be coming to HIA as well as seat sales and other promotions.
Your business is important to us and we hope to better serve your travel needs in the near future.
Sincerely, Wendy
It’s so funny that this “blog” where you can leave comments just happens to have all AEGD affirming articles. The Ham. Airport and the city wouldn’t dare post a differing view on this site or people might get the wrong idea. Of course, they need to hear it from the people that have the facts right? Those in public office and those employed by the corporate sectors that are supporting this project seem to be the only ones in that category. Irony isn’t strong enough of a word.
Filtering and stacking the deck in favour of a controversial project is dishonest at best. I for one value ethics over profit, I wish the same could be said of our city leaders.
Hi Jeremy!
I’m the community manager for this website. Thank you for your honest feedback and I’m sorry that you view this website as being one-sided. The purpose of this website is to provide community members with an information hub about the Airport Employment Growth District project as well as a place (comment section) where they can engage and express his/her opinions.
With that said I appreciate you bringing this to our attention and ask that you help spread the word of the AEGD website. All comments are welcome (both negative and positive) and will be posted as long as they coincide with our Comments Policy. Also, if you find yourself questioning the accuracy of the information posted or if we have missed some news articles regarding the AEGD, please feel free to contact me at info@aegd.ca.