There is, of course, the overarching reason why self-sufficiency as a concept makes sense. This stuff is the best reason to focus on SS. But Ontario taxpayers still funnel billions of dollars to supposedly needy provinces like Quebec, Manitoba and…
Continue ReadingGet in the game
You see that’s the difference between me and some others. They talk about ‘levelling’ the playing field. I talk about just getting on the field to begin with. Vancouver video game developers think provincial government should counter Quebec tax incentives…
Continue ReadingAtlantic Canadians ‘hoping for the best’
Sounds like a metaphor for our overall attitude in this region these days. According to a BMO Financial Group/Ipsos Reid retirement study, one in every four Atlantic Canadian boomers said that when it comes to retirement planning, they’re “hoping for…
Continue Readingمرحبا بكم في نيو برونزويك
Just listened to the 60 Minutes podcast about the growth of Dubai. I have been following this trend for a couple of years. I think New Brunswick needs to figure this out. Several countries in the Arabian Peninsula are investing…
Continue ReadingCould be a good idea
Cape Breton University is offering an MBA in Community Economic Development. I don’t know much about this program, but I think the concept is great. For the most part B Schools have ignored ‘economic development’ as a discipline and the…
Continue ReadingThe wacky and weird
I heard a really strange thing on CBC Information Morning in Freddy this morning. Terry Seguin (sp?) was reading an email from a listener about NB Power and large industrial power rates. It was clear that this was likely an…
Continue ReadingCBC Dalhousie Mill retrospective
A very good retrospective on the paper mill in Dalhousie on CBC. They really honed in on the importance of the mill and the impact of its closure. Heart rending stuff. They interviewed a number of people moving to Alberta.…
Continue ReadingSOTP
I just got back from listening to the Premier’s State of the Province address. I hadn’t gone to one of these things in several years. In fact, the last one I went to was held at the Sheraton and wasn’t…
Continue ReadingImagine that
A couple of weeks ago Macleans magazine ran a story on the secret U.S. dossier about the Airbus affair that everyone in Canada is familiar with by now. I’d like you to read this quote and then my comments below:…
Continue ReadingCommitment matters
There are only a few ways that government can impact economic development. Admittedly, they can have profound effects – positive or negative – but you can boil down the options: Direct funding of economic development (incentives, R&D, direct training, marketing,…
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