Sound familiar? Employment growth in New Brunswick has tapered off in 2008 after strong gains throughout 2007. Average employment levels during the first three quarters were still 1.1% higher than in 2007, but this is well below the 1.8% national…
Continue ReadingExpanding export destinations
N.B. must expand trading sphere as U.S. economy slumps: Graham Shawn Graham said that as Canada’s most trade-dependent province, with close to 90 per cent of its goods destined for the U.S. marketplace, New Brunswick must expand its trade opportunities.…
Continue ReadingSounds like an Air Farce skit
Ontario to collect $347-million payoutOntario will for the first time collect from a federal program designed to shift wealth to Canada’s poorest regions next year, an unpleasant reminder of the grim economic prospects facing the country’s most populous province. Premier…
Continue ReadingAnother Duncan Commission
Someone commented on my post this week recommending a “McKenna Plan” saying that was the Francis McGuire plan. Nope. I am talking about a Fed/Prov initiative with joint responsibility. Maybe even some kind of commission that would recommend significant changes.…
Continue ReadingOgle wants NB to focus on ET
Richard Ogle, who penned the book Smart World, says New Brunswick has done this before when it was a leader in creating a thriving call centre industry, and needs to get behind another new “big idea” if it wants to…
Continue ReadingBlaming demographics
I have blogged about this before but it is well worth repeating. After the Census of 2001 showed that New Brunswick’s population was in decline, then Premier Lord famously (at least in my mind) blamed it on ‘demographics’. It was…
Continue ReadingPropelSJ is now PropelICT
This is a good thing, on a number of levels. First there is considerable IT heft in Saint John and to have a provincial IT initiative led out of that city makes sense. Second, we need a provincial initiative. Read…
Continue ReadingSpend a little, get a lot
One of the oldest tricks in the advertising biz is to develop ads that are so interesting and innovative that you get a pile of media coverage thus doubling or more the impact of the advertising. The other thing about…
Continue ReadingThe McKenna Plan
I love it when the media talks about a new “Marshall Plan” or “Bretton Woods” plan to address the current global financial crisis. Not to be outmanoeuvered, some are calling for Green Marshall Plan. It’s funny but I actually like…
Continue ReadingIn defense of SJ – a bit
The TJ has an editorial quite critical of SJ leadership this a.m. and it uses the dreaded comparison to Moncton and Fredericton to make its point. It’s been a good year for Moncton and Fredericton. In March, these municipalities were…
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