Someone asked about the UPM paper mill in Miramichi which is writing down its production value in the second quarter. Here’s a pertinent quote: UPM will record an impairment charge of the Magazine Papers’ goodwill and writeoff the remaining carrying…
Continue ReadingDispatches from the road: Sao Paulo part deux
I was reading today from another book on the experiment that was the Soviet Union (I am becoming an amateur historian on the subject I think) today and came across a reference to an old Russian proverb that says “success…
Continue ReadingNotes on job creation
I just read in the T&T about the new jobs coming to Greater Moncton. Good news to be sure but a little correction needs to be made. Speilo’s ultimate parent company is based in Italy and the T&T would have…
Continue ReadingPEI, learn from New Brunswick
Sometimes the political need for change sweeps across a province. Take New Brunswick circa 1999 and Canada circa 2006. Evidently Islanders felt the same yesterday. But I hope, upon hope, that the Liberal government on PEI not only continues many…
Continue ReadingOn turismo and Starbucks
I don’t mean to beat the issue to death, but after reading more gushing editorials and comments about the new tourism money from the government of New Brunswick, I just have one question. For all of the pundits, journalists and…
Continue ReadingAnnual pilgrimage
I am heading down south today for my annual pilgrimage. Sao Paulo, Brazil is the destination. A city of 11 million and a metropolitan population of 29 million. But there are great restaurants, lots of things to do. Lots of…
Continue ReadingTime to stir the pot a bit
It’s funny how things go. In the mid 1990s, the Dept. of Economic Dev. & Tourism brought in an economic development guru (I can’t remember his name) and he made a very good presentation on how governments can support effective…
Continue ReadingCry havoc and let loose the dogs of war
From today’s TJ: New Brunswick’s largest public sector union is warning the province’s labour peace could end abruptly if the Liberal government pushes forward with a controversial proposal on merging union contracts. The Self-Sufficiency Task Force’s call for a single,…
Continue ReadingRethinking things
Maybe it’s because I have worked with 11 different economic development agencies (federal, provincial, local and U.S) over the past 12 months. Or maybe it’s because I leave this Sunday on a three week vacation. Or maybe it’s because I…
Continue ReadingBlue sky, green trees, hmmmmm
I had dinner last night with a few of the region’s top economic developers (in my humble opinion) – at least the top thinkers about this stuff. And I posed a question to this gang. Take away all the perceived…
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