I was able to attend much of the Reaching Atlantica conference this week in Saint John. I am encouraged by the traction this theoretical economic zone is getting. I had a whole blog prepared on Maude Barlow and ‘Resisting Atlantica’…
Continue ReadingGet ready for a humdinger
Okay. Canada had the best month for employment growth in over four years. There were almost 97,000 new jobs created last month according to Statistics Canada. New Brunswick’s total employment went up zero. No new jobs created in New Brunswick.…
Continue ReadingElection coming?
One of the best signs an election is coming is when the government turns on the spending tap. The graph below shows the value of building permits issued for government and institutional construction (institutional is mainly government – schools, hospitals,…
Continue ReadingJust a little Equalization example
I think by now you know my position on Equalization. The program is designed not to provide parity in government service delivery across Canada but to provide a minimum acceptable standard for government services. The reason I think this is…
Continue ReadingGaining momentum – capturing the public’s interest
I have often wondered why economic development agencies don’t use the Web more to engage the public about the key issues related to economic development. Besides the odd blogger or two, there is almost no where a New Brunswicker could…
Continue ReadingEqualization Ad Nauseum
I know I have blogged on this for weeks but the hits keep coming. I continued to be baffled by Premier Lord’s position on this. I know he is piggybacking Jean Charest. I know, at least it seems, that he…
Continue ReadingThatcher changed everything
On the treadmill last night, I was listening to an old CD of The Smiths and I heard these lyrics but maybe with a bit of perspective in 2006 that I didn’t have in 1984.I decree today that lifeIs simply…
Continue ReadingThe difference between ideology and political ideology
I have been confused in recent years about this whole issue of ideology. You see, I studied under some fairly ideologically driven professors in university – of the right wing variety – and for me it was absolutely clear where…
Continue ReadingThe Family Tree
My great great grandparents (all but one) were born, raised, lived and died in New Brunswick. My great grandparents were born, raised, lived and died in New Brunswick. My grandparents were born, raised, lived and died in New Brunswick. My…
Continue ReadingFairness matters in news coverage
New Flash! According to Al Hogan in todays T&T We Say: Fairness matters in news coverageOf course, Al is talking about the media’s unfair criticisms of Stephen Harper but to me if there was ever a case of the pot…
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