I have been watching this whole NB Power drama unfold with great interest. The media and punditry reaction has been expected – I am actually quite pleased with David Alward’s comments – this would have been a convenient time to…
Continue ReadingOntario enhances the digital media tax credits for large video game developers
Ontario has announced enhancements to its digital media tax credits which supports large, specialized video game developers that are developing eligible interactive digital media games in the province. The tax credit provides certified game developers that incur at least $1…
Continue ReadingHow to build a value prop
As you know my two big themes in economic development these days are value proposition and networks. The latter builds the former. If you realize that creating an environment where an industry can prosper requires dozens if not hundreds of…
Continue ReadingThose heady, exciting times
At the JA Business Hall of Fame dinner on Tuesday night I asked a couple of my colleagues to answer a question: When you look back on this time in New Brunswick (after retirement), what will be your recollections? Will…
Continue ReadingAvis and the stereotypes
“I’m shocked, shocked to find there is gambling going on in here.” Upon hearing the news that Avis is closing a 220 person call centre in Fredericton, here is the reaction of Liberal MLA T.J. Burke. Federicton-Nashwaaksis MLA T.J. Burke…
Continue ReadingThe long term view
Sometimes it takes an outsider to crystalize things on an issue. I spent an hour this afternoon talking with a U.S. researcher who is studying efforts to lure jobs and investment from one province to another in Canada. We were…
Continue ReadingStirring the pot
Maybe small biz week is not the best time to bring this up but… Still, running a small business can be challenging even in the best of times. Statistics Canada figures show that every year, roughly 150,000 new small businesses…
Continue ReadingPlaying the cataclysm card
Driving home yesterday I heard about Canada’s record home sales last quarter. I have been reading in the New Brunswick paper for weeks about record low unemployment, population growth, strong home starts. Yesterday we were told that all the growth…
Continue ReadingFactCheck.Campbell
Just a note on the story in multiple newspapers this morning about the 6% rise in hourly earnings year over year. I can’t find the source of this data. Statistics Canada estimates released yesterday show the July 2009 data but…
Continue ReadingHalifax- Global emerging outsourcing centre
….on this new list of 50 global outsourcing centres. Toronto is the only other Canadian location on the list. There are no US locations on the list. I see that Halifax actually dropped this year from last but it is…
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