As Chief Administrative Officer, I believe we need to work ever harder at better ways of delivering our services to you. City staff want to ensure that the new city is, and is seen to be, Open for Business. We have come a long way already. We are a more efficient city. Instead of dealing with six municipalities you now do business with one united city.
Business is handled quicker.
Decisions are made, approvals are given, zoning is granted - all in less than half the time it took before. But there are problems. The high industrial tax rate, the lack of available industrial land, the lack of high quality industrial subdivision. There are weak commercial spots. I was reading the other day that the hotel industry is expecting the dearth of new hotel construction in the downtown core to continue.