You know the old saying about the dog that chases the car and actually catches it – then what does he do? Donald Savoie’s recent book full of fairly harsh criticism for central Canada and Ottawa’s approach to regional development…
Continue ReadingThe importance of leadership on the economic development file
There are a few U.S. governors that are leading the pack when it comes to proactive economic development. Iowa Governor Vilsack has done a number of important things including significant new spending, new people attraction strategies and sector-specific recruitment. Illinois…
Continue ReadingChoosing a Minister for BNB
I was curious about all the speculation about ‘who’ would be the new Cabinet – as if all the talk amounts to much. Nevertheless, I add my two cents to the mix. First, I am surprised at how downplayed the…
Continue ReadingThe call centre ‘effect’
I am fascinated by a new study out by Stats Can today that looks at labour and income trends. The study in fact confirms a few interesting trends that I have been tracking. One, the rapid rise of females in…
Continue ReadingBig versus small
I had a very interesting chat yesterday with a former provincial economic development guy. He was musing about the election, economic development and the province’s future. Good insight to be sure. But almost by accident, I casually asked him what…
Continue ReadingWhy that guy won the election
Here’s a thought. Why is it that everyone talks about ‘Shawn’ and ‘Lord’? Almost without exception when the media or bloggers want to talk about either Shawn Graham or Bernard Lord and they want to use one name, it’s is…
Continue ReadingLearning from PBS
I just saw a program on Maine PBS that’s called something like “Local Economies” which is a weekly show that rotates around Maine looking at economic development issues. This week it was about how small rural towns are trying to…
Continue ReadingCurious about election blogs
I am curious to know how many political blogs were set up just for the election. I had heard the parties were looking to pay people to promote their messages through blogs and if you have seen ones that were…
Continue ReadingThe National Post is reporting this morning that the Federal government is enriching the Equalization program by $900 million in its next budget. It is also proposing to transfer another $2 billion a year to all the provinces on a…
Continue ReadingWe haven’t see the last of Bernard Lord
There have been some rather cute efforts in the past 48 hours to portray Bernard Lord as a guy with limited ambition. A family man who really has no interest in federal politics and would rather spend time with ‘da…
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