I recently speculated that the Premier’s – almost bizarre – hard line against Tanker Malley was an indication that he and his advisors see an advantage to going to the polls this year – maybe even this spring. This view…
Continue ReadingNew Brunswick’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams
For those of you who don’t know my background, way back when in the early 1990s when I was fresh out of university, I got a short term job helping the NB Department of Economic Development write proposals for companies…
Continue ReadingFiscal Imbalance – Redux
You know on these pages I have been talking about the widely divergent views of the so-called ‘fiscal imbalance’ in Canada. My theory (based on public statements) is that in Ontario the fiscal imbalance means less of Ontario’s taxes going…
Continue ReadingCorrection on population data
Somebody questioned my recent use of 4/5 of New Brunswick communities in population decline. I have checked the Census and my number is not accurate. I apologize for this and in the future will refer to the right data. 70%…
Continue ReadingTimes & Trashscript vs. the CBC
I know I sound like a broken record with my T&T bashing but I truly believe it is very important to underscore the dangers of such a publication to the long term success of a province like New Brunswick. As…
Continue ReadingNeed to "invest heavily in innovation and creativity"
Two New Brunswick based economists discuss the impact of the rising Canadian dollar on New Brunswick manufacturers in this article. I won’t summarize the article as you can imagine their conclusions (more equipment/productivity, less reliance on the US market, etc.)…
Continue ReadingShould EI payments be voluntary?
A couple of my favorite blogs (our friend Scott over at the Sorry Centrist and NB Politics) have picked up on a post by the decidedly debonair Clinton P. Desveaux – a seemingly self-styled rightist in the tradition of Ludwig…
Continue ReadingRecipe for corruption
The Times and Trashscript is running a CP article today about Premier Lord’s large party salary: The Tory party has come under fire from a national democracy watchdog group for the payment to both Lord ($60,000) and a $10,000 payment…
Continue ReadingEngaging our youth
I think we need to get a whole lot better at engaging young people in the discussion of the economic future of New Brunswick. I’ll define ‘young people’ here as anyone under 30. Please note: I am not talking about…
Continue ReadingLord highest paid Premier in Canada
The CBC is reporting that Bernard Lord is the highest paid Premier in Canada (salary and party money combined). At $183,902 per year, he makes 70% more than his pal on PEI. I’m all for paying our politicians a decent…
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