Elaine Minacs, renowned entrepreneur, dead at 60. I knew this lady. We wrestled her to the ground over setting up a call centre in New Brunswick in the 1990s. We won and convinced her. I think they have about 400…
Continue ReadingGalbraith’s bewilderment and McKenna lingers
I am finishing up Donald Savoie’s tome about economic development in the Maritimes: Visiting Grandchildren. I will likely have some comments on his recommendations at some later date but for now here are two observations: Savoie recounts how John Kenneth…
Continue ReadingWhere’s that passion on the front end?
I have been watching Miramichi Mayor John McKay and his campaign to save the 200 gun registry jobs in his city. It’s been pretty amazing for a small town mayor. He has gotten national press (I just heard him on…
Continue ReadingI understand the point of view of the hound, too
From the movie Casablanca (1942):Rick [Humphrey Bogart]: My interest in whether Victor Laszlo stays or goes is purely a sporting one.Strasser [German Major]: In this case, you have no sympathy for the fox, huh?Rick: Not particularly. I understand the point…
Continue ReadingI’m sorry. I had decided not to write another one of my blogs complaining about the government. I read the TJ article, put it out of my mind and it kept popping back in. So you bear the brunt. What’s…
Continue ReadingOn Crowley and Vroom Vroom Economic Development
Right off the top, I am not talking about old Jean ‘Vroom Vroom’ Gauvin. Rather I am musing aloud (or in the blogsphere) about how AIMS’ Brian Lee Crowley reacts when he sees yet another auto plant incented with public…
Continue ReadingDepressing statistics of the day
I was just going over some mutual fund data for a client. Here’s a startling fact. The per capita mutual fund holdings in Ontario are over double the level in New Brunswick. Each and every Ontarioian holds about $25,000 in…
Continue ReadingLet the games begin
A Times & Transcript story this morning quotes Premier Lord as being indignant with Ontario Premier McGuinty who’s ideas on Equalization would put the squeeze on provinces like New Brunswick:Premier Bernard Lord is pushing back against a campaign by Ontario…
Continue ReadingGot Gas?
If you have ever been to Washington County, Maine and driven around on the back roads you will agree with me when I say much of that County is dirt poor. In fact, statistics show that in many ways it…
Continue ReadingThe Über Economic Developer
For those of you who think that nothing can be done in rural New Brunswick. That economies of scale and integrated logistics force investment into larger cities. That ‘clustering’ has doomed economic development in New Brunswick. Here’s a story that…
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