A business hub for the marine sector could be the anchor property in an under-used part of downtown Victoria that the city’s mayor says is the perfect location for an innovation district.
i agree wholeheartedly. and luckily point hope/ralmax and victoria shipyards have deep enough pickets to build it if it makes sense.
https://www.timescol...oria-1.24171925
The Ocean Futures Innovation Hub would allow marine companies large and small to share resources, provide mentorship to marine start-ups and act as an incubator for growth, according to proponents of the project. The hub would be a key step in putting the West Coast on the map as a place where the marine sector can thrive and innovate for the future, said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps.
SIPPS and the City of Victoria accelerated the request-for-proposals process because they believe the innovation hub could attract federal and provincial government funding as part of the post-pandemic stimulus plan, Helps said.
The innovation hub could diversify Victoria’s economy, which is heavily dependent on tourism, she said.
we don't need a post-covid stimulus plan using tax dollars. we need to go back to normal now.
Helps said the project will work closely with Indigenous groups who have 12,000 years of knowledge with respect to the ocean.
usual pandering.
Dallas Gislason, director of economic development for the South Island Prosperity Partnership, said Canada has the longest coastline in the world, yet its marine industry drastically underperforms compared to smaller countries.
Norway’s ocean industry generated about $100 billion Cda for their economy in 2017 versus approximately $20 billion generated by Canada’s ocean industry the same year, according Gislason, based on Canada’s Ocean Strategy and a similar economic reports published by the Norwegian government.
“Why are they outperforming us so heavily?” Gislason asked. “They invest heavily in the infrastructure, from research to commercialization to helping small and medium companies turn into big companies.”
they are outperforming because they have more people using a smaller coastline - all of europe.
The oceans innovation hub could attract marine companies from all over the world, bringing high-paying jobs to Victoria, Gislason said.
With many other industries suffering due to COVID-19, including the arts and entertainment industry and sports industry, it’s critically important to boost other sectors to spur the economic recovery, Gislason said.
entertainment and arts and sports will be back as soon as the damn government says it's ok. certainly years sooner than even a site will be selected for this white elephant.
i understand the sipp has to be seen to be doing something for all the tax money they get. but try harder to come up with something that makes sense.