Almost 25 years ago I took my first post-MBA job in New Brunswick. It was with the NB Department of Economic Development and Tourism (EDT) or maybe it was the NB Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture (?). Anyway,…
Continue ReadingFighting the biggest battle of our time with one hand tied behind our back
New Brunswick’s three larger urban centres (Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John) are trying to do something that is rare in recent Canadian history – dramatically increase immigration. Historically, most immigrants have flowed into the largest urban centres – without substantial…
Continue ReadingStop your obsession with youth out-migration, please
There was a good article in the Globe & Mail recently outlining New Brunswick’s demographic challenges and how that is dampening the economic potential of the province. It certainly wasn’t a positive article – but it wasn’t the typical hatchet…
Continue ReadingEmbrace your inner snowwoman/snowman
Lately I have been watching promotional videos for a few small urban centres in Canada. They are mostly well produced and make the communities look pristine, friendly and mostly charming. In others, at first glance a good place to live…
Continue ReadingWhat do we really want from free (r) trade? Back to first principles
As we start the renegotiation of NAFTA, there is lots of chatter in the media about the importance of trade, how critical it is to the Canadian economy, how it boosts GDP by x and makes us more productive, yadda,…
Continue ReadingEconomic development: All about the money, honey?
This is a recurring theme on this blog but I feel it is timely to raise it again. Specifically I am talking about the role of government in support of economic development. I’ve seen multiple people on LinkedIn peddling new…
Continue ReadingLooking for Bootstraps: The Musical
In my view, Donald Savoie’s Looking for Bootstraps should be required reading in the Maritimes. As a follow up to Visiting Grandchildren, he has added new content and important new thoughts on the issue of economic development in the three…
Continue ReadingWhen does something rise to the level of ‘controversial’?
I was surprised to read this CBC article describing the Sisson Mine as ‘controversial’. I’m not sure it is particularly controversial. It has gone through a thorough environmental process and received both federal and provincial approvals. A while ago…
Continue ReadingThe rise of Glamping. What can we learn from Mongolia about tourism investment?
There is an interesting article in the Economist this week about the rise of ‘glamping’ in China. This glamorous camping is done by rich Chinese. The yurts have “beds, windows, Wi-Fi and en suite bathrooms.” And this “A single…
Continue ReadingFoxconn, incentives and ROI: Redux
I recently wrote about the big Foxconn expansion in Wisconsin and the $3 billion incentive package. I wondered about the ROI on that level of incentives. It wasn’t clear to me if the project would achieve any real ROI over…
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