The new Census figures on immigration out this week were not that surprising. It confirms what we have been seeing – that New Brunswick’s urban centres are attracting more immigrants but having some trouble retaining them. The more interesting data…
Continue ReadingMaking sure Taintville doesn’t fall through the cracks
There is a place in the Miramichi area known as Taintville. Someone from the area told me it got its name because it’aint Newcastle and it’aint Chatham (anyone knowing the real story can send me a note). It seems to…
Continue ReadingHow’s she goin’, boys? In the Miramichi, she’s goin’ pretty good these days
In this sense, of course, ‘she’ is gender neutral. My father, sixth generation Miramichier, sidled up to my father-in-law one time (born and lives in Brazil and speaks a little English) and asked him “how’s she goin’?”. My father-in-law asked…
Continue ReadingMcKenna 20 years later: Learning from his legacy
In recent weeks I have been working on a project that has led me to chat with a bunch of business and government folk that were prominent in 1980s/1990s New Brunswick. In all cases the conversation eventually got around to…
Continue ReadingIf we want to be globally competitive, we have to take that term seriously
The City of Saint John recently released a study they had completed looking at the property tax system that makes some interesting recommendations most notable for a significant rise in taxation of heavy industry, the assessment of equipment and machinery…
Continue ReadingChasing Amazon? May I suggest you consider Facebook instead?
The competition to attract Amazon H2 and its 50,000 jobs is reaching a fevered pitch. Some experts have suggested the total value of the incentive deal will reach $5 billion ($100k per job) or more. Amazon has even stated that it…
Continue ReadingWe need more investment: A lament for Energy East (?)
One of the reasons why the New Brunswick economy has been so draggy in recent years has been the lack of big scale capital expenditures. For the better part of 30 years, starting with the Confederation Bridge, at any…
Continue ReadingA possible tax reform solution: Tighten the rules around equivalency
From the start the federal government has couched the issue of tax reform around fairness. Why should two people earning the same income and doing the same work pay different levels of tax just because one uses a corporation to…
Continue ReadingThe Amazon headquarters sweepstakes: It’s fun to play!
Why would someone buy lottery tickets every week, week in, week out for years – even decades? They know intuitively the chance of them winning the big one is infinitesimal but they get out there every week. In fact, the…
Continue ReadingThe power of giving your time to causes that matter
Maybe it’s because I studied under a bunch of Libertarian professors in university but I have never been comfortable with the idea that government should have the exclusive right to try and solve all of society’s challenges. A couple of…
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