Quote: mousquet Originally Posted by While he was touring some overseas communities, the prez visited them last Christmas, supposedly for the groundbreaking ceremony of a hospital, so they should at least no longer have to go up to Canada for regular healthcare.



However, the local economy's been too slow, just as the overall French economy. The current president, his most gracious majesty Mr François Hollande is a gentleman from the socialist party (like the most significant politicians from these islands for now, anyway). So you know, he would've showed up over there with his public social stuff for Christmas, but no business strategy to actually develop Saint-Pierre. A public hospital is cool, was surely necessary, but won't be enough.



Some businesses would be interested in developing Saint-Pierre's port, cause tourism (maybe even freight) over the area and that of the Arctic region further north would be somewhat booming. Of course, we're only talking about a microcommunity here, but the location of these islands would nonetheless be pretty interesting, right on a spot where some maritime routes getting busier and busier cross. Have you seen or heard about anything related to that project of expanding the local port? That's apparently an initiative from the private sector that could create a couple of hundred jobs locally. So hopefully the mean politicians don't mess it up.



The economy doesn't seem to be that bad. No one seems especially poor, or especially rich. And there is a strong underground economy still of moving cheap cigarettes and booze to Newfoundland and beyond. Unfortunately, there is also a strong economy of smuggling drugs in from Newfoundland.



I'm sure it has its struggles - what place so isolated could not - but the difference in feeling and atmosphere from comparable towns in Newfoundland is like night and day.



Regarding the port - there is a lot of work going on there. I can't tell what the purpose is because the Customs building (Duane or something) is right on the wharf and is gutted inside, so the exterior work could just be related to fixing that building. But it is a busy construction zone, yes. They do have a beautiful health center. I'm not sure why they come here for healthcare but I assume it's only for specialized care. They were in the news here recently as they were shopping around for a new provider because we were charging them too much and not having bilingual staff available at all times.The economy doesn't seem to be that bad. No one seems especially poor, or especially rich. And there is a strong underground economy still of moving cheap cigarettes and booze to Newfoundland and beyond. Unfortunately, there is also a strong economy of smuggling drugs in from Newfoundland.I'm sure it has its struggles - what place so isolated could not - but the difference in feeling and atmosphere from comparable towns in Newfoundland is like night and day.Regarding the port - there is a lot of work going on there. I can't tell what the purpose is because the Customs building (Duane or something) is right on the wharf and is gutted inside, so the exterior work could just be related to fixing that building. But it is a busy construction zone, yes. __________________

Note to self: "The plural of anecdote is not evidence." Last edited by SignalHillHiker; Jun 22, 2015 at 6:06 PM .