Once in a while, the Fraser Institute publishes a paper that makes their province of origin look really bad. They don’t do it on purpose, of course, but it ends up that way. Take their latest paper on corporate welfare. …
Continue ReadingImmigration, growth scenarios and Richard Florida
I just spent a day and half with a client talking about immigration. These were a great bunch of folks (I can say that because I don’t believe they read this blog), highly motivated and talented. I don’t see this…
Continue ReadingWho benefits from tax cuts?
It’s nice to see that the Federal Department of Finance agrees with me. I said during the provincial government’s discussion on taxation that reducing consumption taxes would be a benefit to foreign manufacturers because it stimulates more consumption. Here’s a…
Continue ReadingHighways aren’t economic development
As with most people, my thoughts tend to coalesce around certain themes. I look for a common thread or the connective tissue. It seems to me that governments have agreed that during a time of recession, they need to spend…
Continue ReadingThe new gold rush
A new player has stepped into the picture in oil and natural gas exploration here, committing $4.5 million to test potential in a 60,000- acre parcel taking in Norton, Ratters Corner and Wards Creek. Ittihad Capital Corporation, a private fund…
Continue ReadingAndrew Carnegie
Just finished a bio of Andrew Carnegie. Don’t know why but I have been reading about these old titans of industry lately. It’s a strange case. He amassed a fortune of what today would be worth $120 billion and then gave it…
Continue ReadingCanadian companies and economic development
I don’t know, maybe I am just a plain old vanilla socialist but I have felt for a long time that Canada’s national companies don’t give a rip about regional economic development and, in fact, are working against it in…
Continue ReadingPolitical intrigue
I haven’t posted much on the drama unfolding in Ottawa these days. To tell you the truth I see both sides of the thing. An ustable coalition held hostage by the vested interest of the Bloc may not be the…
Continue ReadingInfrastructure funding is not economic development
From the TJ today: The Atlantic premiers called on the federal government to top up their capital budgets with new dollars and to accelerate Atlantic Gateway funding to improve the region’s ports, rail lines and roads. The message was crafted…
Continue ReadingA little different view
The folks over at Localintheknow have put a new template for the blog. Let me know if you have any trouble with the RSS, posting comments, etc.
Continue Reading