Economic Recovery, or King of Pain – Guardian

 

While warmed to see provincial decision makers reading the Guardians Business Edge and regularly tuning into the Exchange podcast for policy direction, there is a deeper narrative missed in the brevity of our comments.

There’s a little black spot on the sun today

The Premiers economic council has been referenced for almost a month. Despite enquires as to the composition, mandate and direction being provided by the secretive council; silence has been the reply. The communication vacuum has created a swell of interest in civic engagement and economic empowerment, with working groups informally establishing across the province, freestanding influence of the government.

It’s the same old thing as yesterday

Tuesday our economy has been anointed to reopen, and will awaken with the budding of local trees, the warmth of the sun awakening enterprise and suspending the viral fear. This is welcomed! Eased initially – tested and expanded. School resumption is still being contemplated, but to an uncertain social aim. Professional development could be advanced to this downtime, or maybe returning to school early in the Fall as catch up would be more prudent.

There’s a black hat caught in the high tree top

The challenge for our economy is not this summer or next winter the true impact is eighteen months out – this needs to come into focus of the Premiers veiled council. Our health crisis has become an economic crisis, the effects of which will not be fully manifested for a year, but the real challenge will be a geo-political crisis; assured to be sparked up as consequence and outcome of COVID-19.  

There’s a flag pole rag and the wind won’t stop

The economic transition experienced has been remarkable in its pivot. It has taken hundreds of years to move from an industrial economy to a technological economy, decades to move to an experience economy and years to move to a transformational economy. Overnight we morphed into an essential economy, concerned only with subsistence: food, shelter, communications. How we evolve beyond the essential economy is the present challenge.

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain

In transformation, perhaps we need a more comprehensive societally model for recovery. The economy is the fundamental under pinning that affords all the policies and luxuries we enjoy. But, let’s consider a 360-degree approach to economic/ social revitalization. From every dimension what is required to return a balanced and functioning economic framework?

With the world turning circles running ’round my brain

Certainly, business is the critical stakeholder, however what of society/ citizenship, and government as an engaged participant. Should other esoteric entities be included; underrepresented and voiceless groups, education advocates, religious leadership, land and environment representatives – what are the dimensions of functional inclusion? A comprehensive 360-degree stakeholder group could be included in the broader conversation as we reimagine our recovery.

I guess I’m always hoping that you’ll end this reign

If we can resume some semblance of economic activity and local self-reliance, we will minimize the initial pain. But the pain is only deferred. The pain yet unfelt is on the way, landing in twelve to eighteen months when the economic reverberations really hit our shores. Planning today can minimize impacts that we might expect in the future, we must move decisively to fortify our positioning otherwise as musician Sting foreshadowed in his lyrics:

But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain