Every year, Statistics Canada comes out with their new population estimates and every year we get experts weighing on how to counter the ‘aging’ population in New Brunswick. This is almost an annual tradition in New Brunswick. Former Premier Lord…
Continue ReadingJournalists and economic development
I was just thinking about that previous story of Dubuque, Iowa and 1,300 IBM jobs and wondering what would be the best way to get a detailed analysis of how that happened. What is the backstory? How did IBM get…
Continue ReadingLearning from Dubuque, Iowa
I probably should break down and get a snow blower. It takes me between 1.5 and 3 hours to shovel out every time we have a storm. This is a great story. Dubuque, Iowa (population 57,000) is wooing and close…
Continue ReadingWhither Southern Ontario
I continue to be amazed at the welfare mentality coming out of Ontario these days. At a political level, I guess it makes some sense but now even CD Howe and other Ontario think tanks are calling for more EI fairness, a version of the…
Continue ReadingOn clarity and conviction
A couple of stories this a.m. of interest. First, the CBC has a more detailed piece on the ROC Consulting gig to support economic development in Northern NB. Somebody said this might change my view of the thing. Look, I…
Continue ReadingAn interesting inside look
The TJ has an interesting story this morning about the cost of hiring a consulting team to do some investment lead prospecting for Northern New Brunswick. I am quoted in the piece but what I find interesting is that this…
Continue ReadingMedical tourism
Mostly people just chuckle when I talk about medical tourism as a potentially lucrative economic development opportunity. I have been mentioning it off and on for at least 2-3. I came across this interesting report making the case that Australia…
Continue ReadingPopulation adjustment
From the TJ: A revised estimate of New Brunswick’s population has shown there are about 4,600 fewer people than originally believed living in the province. Statistics Canada initially reported New Brunswick’s population was 751,250 in January 2008, but the new…
Continue ReadingA bad example
I was in the economic development system when the province lured those two textile mills to Northern New Brunswick. $76 million provincial money into those projects and they are essentially dead. Funny how these things go. For $150 million, there…
Continue ReadingGroan
I like Premier Graham – I really do. He seems sincere and dedicated and somewhat keen. However, I let out a huge sigh this morning when I read this headline in the DG: The road to prosperity is paved with…
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