Sometimes in our rush to make a point, we try to find examples without really doing any research. It’s clear that this guy (below) is trying to get Nova Scotia to be more aggressive on the economic development front, but…
Continue ReadingWhat to do with the wood?
I purposely avoid too much comment on the health (or lack thereof) of the forestry industry in New Brunswick. It’s a complex mix of global market considerations, environmental issues, government policy, energy policy, trade regulation and overall industry trends. But…
Continue ReadingBeing good at something
I have been preoccupied with the topic of excellence lately. The more I interact with folks across the spectrum – media, the arts, industry, government, etc. I get the feeling that there is very little you could define as ‘excellent’…
Continue ReadingEconomic development Russian style
I just read that the Ruskies are threatening to ban Lufthansa from flying its cargo planes through its airspace unless it puts its MRO facilities in Siberia. What do you think? Should the Canadian government ban all cargo flights through…
Continue ReadingLeBreton grinning from ear to ear
I suspect that we will get a rousingly good news buffet in tomorrow’s news about the unemployment rate in NB dropping to 7.6%. It certainly is almost without precedent. But it does very little to change the fundamentals. We are…
Continue ReadingCrossing the floor pays dividends
Think Stronach, Emmerson and now Wally Stiles. I suspect this will rankle Tories and also backbencher Libs. On a lighter note, that story in the TJ this morning about ATCON is right on the money. If New Brunswick companies can…
Continue ReadingShake things up a bit
My column in the TJ this a.m. comes at it from a different angle. My intent with the column is to systematically make the points that I try to convey on this blog: the underfunding of economic development; the misallocation…
Continue ReadingCuttin’ those small business taxes worked!
This is from a recent report out of B.C.: Over the last five years, British Columbia has led the country in growth in the number of small businesses. Between 2001 and 2006, the count of small businesses in the province…
Continue ReadingFunny stuff
It turns out that the New Brunswick government is prepared to give large scale incentives – just not to good projects. NB Taxpayer (with hand shaking on the mouse) sent this link. $78.5 million to prop up 365 jobs. That’s…
Continue ReadingPer Crapita – the ultimate spin
Someone sent me an email yesterday, talking about New Brunswick’s GDP per capita has performed well in recent years and that I should stop spinning out distorted economic facts. So, this morning, I will give you a little lesson in…
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