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The Guardian-  June 14th, 1999 
Dave Stewart 

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Futurist says Confederation Bridge’s easy access to the mainland, combined with a deliberate reduction in our taxation rates, could provide Prince Edward Island with a much stronger economy as we enter the new century. 

Growing potatoes and fishing lobsters year-round. Entrepreneurs flocking to the new land of opportunity. Women assuming a greater position of power. 

Those are just some of the insights one of the world’ best known futurists predicts for Prince Edward Island in the next millennium. 

Frank Ogden, who calls Vancouver home despite being a world traveler and explorer, is better known as Dr. Tomorrow. The man has his pilot’s license is just about everything, is a syndicated columnist, author and lecturer. Ogden also called Summerside his home a few years back. 

"Prince Edward Island can be anything it wants to be," the 79-year-old futurist said in an interview. "It’s no longer isolated." 

The key to approaching the next century for Prince Edward Island lies with the Confederation Bridge, Ogden stresses. Not only does the 13-kilometre marine span act as the gateway to the birthplace of Confederation, it is a gateway to "the new age". 

No longer can the Island rely on farming and fishing as primary resources. In the next century, the Island must sell itself to new innovative industry, to entrepreneurs that could make it prosper. 

With access so much easier now, that is possible like never before. 

The next step is to eliminate taxes to attract entrepreneurs and keep them here. 

"If P.E.I. wants to attract entrepreneurs in the new age they should eliminate any provincial income tax and any provincial sales tax on any industry coming in there. I think it would be mainly high-tech industry. Today, the most expensive thing you could put on any product is the taxes". 

Sound realistic? Ogden explains that it’s basically just a paradigm shift in ones thinking. Open up to the possibilities such a change would create and create prosperous change it will. 

Right now, entrepreneurs already have their eye on Prince Edward Island because of the easier access the Confederation Bridge provides, Ogden says. Offer them a tax-free environment and you’ve basically guaranteed they’ll be staying for more than just a shoulder season or two. 

But wouldn’t P.E.I. lose it serenity should it besieged by entrepreneurs and big, high-tech industry? Not on your life, Ogden argues. 

"The Island’s serenity could be a factor in keeping them there. They’d buy some of that wonderful farmland you’ve got." 

And, while P.E.I. should no longer rely on farming and fishing for the 21st century sustenance it doesn’t mean those vital industries are on the way out. 

Ogden predicts dramatic changes in biotechnology will breathe new life into industries that defined the 20th century on Prince Edward Island. 

Ogden mentioned a new antifreeze gene researches are currently testing in Northern Alberta that allows plants to grow and thrive during Canada’s long, though winters. 

"Biotechnology will be the controversial topic of the next decade, it will put abortion on the back burner," he said. "Islanders will be able to grow products in the wintertime." 

Some of Ogden’s other predictions include a growing lifespan for Islanders and greater roles for Island women. 

"(Island) women are going to be better equipped for the communications age," Ogden said, referring to the role communications will play in the next 100 years. "Men have the experience but women will dominate based on their perception of the environment. They’ll be more accurate decision makers than men." 

Ogden also predicted an end to the usefulness of futurists. 

"I’m starting to wonder if there is a future for futurists," he chuckled. "Things are changing so rapidly that they’re reality before people like myself can foresee them." 

That statement was intended as a forewarning to Islanders. Join the new age and be willing to take some big risks and do things that might have seemed silly the next 20th century or be left behind. 

"If you don’t jump on that bulldozer you’re likely going to be part of the road, " Ogden said. 

In other world, the 21st century will be about people to take the initiative to break their own ground and crate their own opportunities. 
 

Some predictions about Prince Edward Island from Frank Ogden. 
 
 

Here are a few summarized predictions futurist Frank Ogden has for Prince Edward Island in the 21st Century.        1. Farmers will be able to grow crops year-round thanks to major advances in biotechnology’     2. Young people will stay at home to work rather than leave the Island for jobs;     3. The Wood Island ferry service ill thrive as a tourist attraction offering people a more relaxed mode of travelling’     4. The Island infamous serene way of life will attract new entrepreneurs seeking quality of life and business opportunity’     5. The province will eliminate all income taxes and provincial sales taxes as a means of attracting high-tech industry     6. Island women will be better equipped for the new millennium and assume a greater position of power in all areas;     7. As industries like tourism continue to grow in importance, the province’s workforce will become more professional         and service oriented. The attitude that many jobs are seasonal and something students do for the summer will cease;     8. The lifespan of the average person will continue to grow therefore the Island will become an even bigger haven for seniors;     9. Cloning will become a reality and Islanders will be able to demand implants that will give them superior abilities;   10. Islanders will use the Internet to broadcast live television sows to sell their products to the world.

 

 

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