Jimmy on the Economy
It adds a certain lustre to the riding when one of your constituents is a global economic force. I refer to James A. Pattison, managing director, chief executive officer, and chairman of the Jim Pattison Group (26,000 employees, $5.5 billion in sales, $3.4 billion in assets, and Jimmy owns it all.)Pattison heads Canada’s fifth largest private company, owning and operating a highly eclectic portfolio which started with a Pontiac Buick dealership in 1961 and now ranges from illuminated signs, media, periodicals distribution, entertainment, packaging, automotive, and food, through to export and financial services, across the full expanse of North America, Europe and Asia.
My first encounter with Mr. Pattison was in the traffic jam leading up to pre-restoration Lions Gate Bridge – everybody jockeying their cars for position to get onto the bridge to Vancouver. Beside me is this guy wearing sun glasses, driving a nicely polished red Chevrolet convertible. Vintage about 1955 I would say. Who else can it be but James Pattison. I yell over, “Nice car Jimmy.” “Thanks,” is the reply. No security outriders, no executive assistants, just Jimmy driving to work in an open convertible, like anybody else.
Recently, Pattison (known to most as “Jimmy”) strode across the stage after a speech by Premier Gordon Campbell, and announced that:
“43 years ago I started in business - today 43 years later, business in the Province of BC has never been better than it is right now."
Pattison went on to say Premier Gordon Campbell had triumphed under very challenging circumstances. Business was good despite the impact of the 911 tragedy, the softwood lumber dispute, flooding in the Pemberton Valley, forest fires in the Interior and diseases like SARS, Mad Cow, and the Avian Flu. He gave credit to the Premier for making tough decisions that in the long run will benefit all British Columbians.
It can’t get much better than that.
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