PARADE OF HOMES By MACK PARLIAMENT Director of Publications Canadian Real Estate Association If urban growth continues at the pace that has marked the last century as Canada changed from an agrarian to an industrial country by the year only per cent of the population will be rural dwellers At present 30 per cent or the population Tails into that category the remaining per cent arc city dwellers Despite its almost million square miles of territory unlike the United States Canada is not a nation of several large cities In fact if present trends continue of the per cent of the population who would be living in cities by the year most of them would be concentrated in three or four large centres like Montreal Toronto and Vancouver and loa lesser degree in expanding cities like Calgary This trend has had a marked effect on the price of houses m the large cities affected by influx people from rural areas and smaller centres As the population of the urban giants increases so does the price of houses The reason is not difficult to find As land surrounding these centres becomes scarcer its price increases and it is not uncommon for the price of the lot on which a house stands to represent 50 per cent or more of the house lot package price It is an elementary economic law that exerts upward pressure on the price of torn mod lies Therefore it is easy to see why the price of houses in Vancouver are much higher than the national average It is sandwiched between the ocean and the Rocky Mountains making whatever land that is available an extremely valuable commodity Toronto likewise is waterlocked on its southern border making land inside the city and on its northern border more valuable as vacant land within the citv becomes rapidly depleted Calgary is also experiencing growing pains ana this city with Toronto and Vancouver nave the highest average house prices in Canada The now familiar problems associated with urban living are going to multiply especially if Canadian cities follow the pattern of many large S cities Marcel federal minister of regional economic expansion predicted in a recent speech Jobs and more house construction follow the concentration of plant locations and so the big cities get bigger and said the problems of congestion pollution personal alienation serviced land shortages housing problems and social unrest are inevitable Meanwhile the population of many small communities across Canada has been falling as industry locates elsewhere Some face the threat of virtually Property values fall as people move away and though there may be bargains they are not matched up with em ployment opportunities But they may be bargains for retired couples or families prepared to commute In an attempt to turn the tide so that he present projections for the year 2000 wont become a reality the federal government has for some time Intervened to try to better balance economic growth There has been a concentration of plant locations in large urban centres to the point where Southern Ontario or example accounts for almost half of all Canadian employment and output in manufacturing industries said These activities are expanding in that area at rates greater than those prevailing in the country as a whole Many examples of government in tervention development of different parts of the country are a part of history But recent intervention according to been designed to oromoU greater freedom choice for individuals and to Increase the op portunities available to Canadians to work In different regions at different Jobs offering long- term security and Income stability In short the aim of the federal government is to encourage small communities to grow and prosper if they have the potential to do so Of course taxpayers money Is spent to accomplish the governments objective in constructing roads sewers piers and other necessities for industrial growth But Lessard argues that It may be more costly for society to have plants locale near an existing large centre because new schools community centres and other necessities and amenities must be put in place to accommodate the expanded population created by the new job opportunities Coupled with this are Increased land costs not just for the newcomers but for everybody The land costs and zoning regulations often make it more expensive to build the facilities in large urban centres Meanwhile schools community centres and other facilities in slow growth centres are underutilized He gave as examples of government in tervention a federalprovincial project to develop a steel complex in Regina a Joint provincialfederal venture to develop a new industrial park in Cornwall a plywood plant in McAdam New Brunswick and another joint project to establish a bleached pulp mill at St Fehcien Quebec sards department has spent more than l billion to have roads sewers schools and industrial parks put in place in areas to attract Industry Whether history will show that the demographic projections for the year 2000 will in fact become a reality only time wilt tell HOMES TOWN HOUSES SEETHE PROFESSIONALS JON ZORGE REAL ESTATE Inc Realtor my Rear Ann Warren Crawford Audrey Vicky Lukas Centre Mary Jon Zorge Coring DePaoli Front Sally Reed Vivian 8770155 10 Mountainview Georgetown CORING DEPAOLI VIVIAN SALLY REED AUDREY DAVIES VICKY LUKAS ANNE WARREN CRAWFORD JON ZORGE JOEY POULSTRUP 77 REDDOT REALTY LTD ADAMS BONNEVILLE REALTOR ADAMS Call larqe I room 18 Call before me snow goes Only Oil OLDE BONNIE DOOM MAIN STREET solid Wick home sit Prime loca1 Owner mill lease back BOO It More rents Only 10 to t Canada Trust 8779500 A CHRISTMAS WISH We hope you enjoy a happy holiday season in warmth and peace Our best wishes of the season to everyone SUDS WM WATSON I It MAIN ST GEORGETOWN ONTARIO TORONTO LINK ASK ABOUT OUR BRIDGE LOAN PUN HUNTER REAL ESTATE INSURANCE LIMITED Georgetown TERRA CTFA On Credit Rlvor Located In Terra the property Is deep and Is a truly beautiful wall lot The largo home Is stucco that requires renovation and remodelling The price Is what you would normally to pay lor the land only Asking NORVAl ARIA acre In Nerval area I25x250 well treed Ideal location or a prestige home CALEDON ACRES What seclusion this well treed acres odors with over 1000 ft and great possibilities tor large lake a very unusual piece of property Interested Call and well show it to you OFFICE OR BURNS IRENE CURRY LLOYD CRICHTON HUNTER APPRAISAL