Some people have criticized me as being too critical of government efforts to stimulate the economy. Fair enough – although I prefer to think of it as constructive criticism. But I do have to call a spade – a spade.…
Continue ReadingGrowth minus the stucco, please
Here’s my first dispatch from Phoenix, Arizona. After spending a few hours driving around here yesterday, I couldn’t help but pen a blog. Phoenix is booming. From 1990 to 2000, the city grew its population by 34% and the Greater…
Continue ReadingCan’t resist this one
The CBC is reporting a story with an update on the government’s Prosperity Plan. I could see this coming a mile away. New Brunswick’s GDP growth has been below the national average for five of the last six years but…
Continue ReadingWhere’s France?
When it comes to attracting business investment into a region such as New Brunswick, it helps to have connections. Quebec, for example, has deep economic connections with France including over 100 representatives working in France on areas such as investment…
Continue ReadingMoncton? Where’s that?
One of my fondest media moments in New Brunswick was either last year or the year before when Halifax received over 100 centimetres of snow and smashed all records. A little remembered aspect of that particular storm system was that…
Continue ReadingAttracting Investment to NB
Attracting foreign direct investment to New Brunswick must be the linchpin of any economic development strategy. There was$5.2 trillion in foreign direct investment into OECD countries from 1994-2003. Just a small fraction of that into New Brunswick would have completely…
Continue ReadingThe perogative of the media
I think it must be tough to be a politician in this time of abject cynicism and distrust. I acknowledge that much of this blog projects a fairly negative view of politicians particularly regarding how they are handling economic development…
Continue ReadingGaining some traction
The winds of change may just be blowin’in New Brunswick (reference my last blog). Traditionally, there have been two schools of thought when it comes to economic development in the province. One says bring on the pogey, more EI, more…
Continue ReadingWinds of change are blowin’
Perhaps contrary to the word’s definition, revolutions don’t happen over night. They tend to be the result of years and perhaps generations of pent up angst that finally manifests itself as a quick ‘revolution’. I spent six years in university…
Continue ReadingCost of living – eye of the beholder
I am fairly certain that I am not the only one grumbling about the 7-8% increase in electricity rates this year. And now the Premier is warning of an addition 4%-6% if they refurbish the Lepreau power plant. One of…
Continue Reading