First the good news. The latest report from Transport Canada confirms that the Greater Moncton Airport has become the major airport in New Brunswick. In September 2004, there were 3,152 commercial flights out of Greater Moncton (domestic and transborder). There…
Continue ReadingFood industry needs to get ‘healthy’
Did you know there are over 400 companies employing some 16,000 in New Brunswick in the food production business? Over 100 of them are right here in Greater Moncton. It is a major economic generator for the province. However, according…
Continue ReadingThe truth about population growth
According to Statistics Canada, almost all population growth in Canada from 1971 to 2001 was concentrated into four areas of Canada: Extended Greater Toronto, Greater Montreal, the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and Greater Vancouver. Collectively, the rest of Canada grew only slightly…
Continue ReadingSell! Sell! Sell!
I recently heard that Moncton-based Hi-Tech Gaming was being acquired by Nevada-based IGT. This follows the blockbuster acquisition earlier of Speilo Manufacturing by another U.S. company, GTech. Some economic developers shudder when they hear that a locally owned and controlled…
Continue ReadingHappy New Year – Premier Williams
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse – and I have the misfortune of my mindshare being occupied by Premier Danny Williams of Newfoundland and his crazy idea…
Continue ReadingThe Trouble with Normal
The Trouble with normal is it always gets worse – Bruce Cockburn (1983) Unknown to most casual fans of Bruce Cockburn, he is actually the quintessential contrarian railing against the Right and the Left. He is a pacifist with a…
Continue ReadingCross your fingers for downtown Moncton
I hope I don’t sound too critical of the folks charged with developing the downtown. I know the time and effort that many people have put in. However, I am a little cranky. Greater Moncton has undergone a significant economic…
Continue ReadingReally, I like arts & culture
A recent blog posted here by yours truly questioned the idea that a strong arts & culture community is a direct economic development driver. Some of you took this to mean that I do not support the Bohemians. On the…
Continue ReadingMadame Next NB – Stop Fear Mongering
The Telegraph-Journal’s Lisa Hrabluk fancies herself a bit of a thinker. Instead of piling on the drivel, some of the time her columns reflect that she has taken the time to think the issue through. Not this time. In her…
Continue ReadingMy Ode a l’Acadie
I had the pleasure of going to see the Festival acadien de Caraquet’s Ode a l’Acadie this weekend. It was awesome. These are truly gifted muscians and performers. However, as is usually the case, my mind wandered during a particularly…
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