It is easy to understand why the Filmon government may be feeling comfortable with its economic development record. The traditional economic indicators, such as the province's 6.6 per cent unemployment rate, all suggest Manitoba is doing relatively well.

But while the province's overall economic picture may appear rosy at the moment, this is no time for the government to be resting on its laurels. It is clear that significant change is under way and that we are moving increasingly into an information- based economy. The question is whether Manitoba, and specifically Winnipeg, is ready for it?

That was the question posed by Stephen Leahey, president of the Manitoba Corporation for Enabling Technologies, on the page opposite last Saturday.

Mr. Leahey argues that Winnipeg's economic well-being is threatened by the technological revolution that is reducing the cost of gathering, storing and transmitting data. He predicts jobs will continue to be lost, particularly in financial services and communications, as computers become more powerful and the cost of information continues to drop.

That is not to say that the same technological revolution that is eliminating some jobs isn't creating new ones. But creating these jobs will depend upon innovation, knowledge and the community's ability to bring business, government and educational institutions together to provide opportunities for economic development.

Premier Gary Filmon would be the first to acknowledge government has a role to play in economic development. His government has done so by balancing the books, freezing some taxes and lowering others, providing loans and tax credits and taking an interest in education and training.

The time has come, however, for the province to take a closer look at what else it can do to help build the economy, particularly in the high-tech and information sectors. This can be achieved in a number of ways. The province could, for example, call together the key players in the high-tech and information sectors to develop a plan for Winnipeg. Such a discussion might take stock of developments in other places, such as Calgary or Ottawa, and discuss possible opportunities for Winnipeg. Such a gathering might come up with a blueprint for action that would show how business, government and post-secondary institutions could work together.

Clearly, some discussion and networking of this kind is already taking place, a point underscored by the growth in high-tech and information-based companies. But that is not the point. The issue is not so much what has been done, but how much more can be done, and must be done, if Winnipeg is to prosper.