As you know, the provincial government has been using the lowering unemployment rate as its mantra about how much prosperity they are heaping on New Brunswick. They all but ignore population decline, very bad job creation levels, etc. but that…
Continue ReadingRebalancing priorities for Canada’s prosperity
The Ontario-based Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity just released its latest report called Rebalancing priorities for Canada’s prosperity. Based on a few factors, I think this institute is gaining in credibility among policy makers. This latest report is a wide…
Continue ReadingNB Business Council – Another Dog and Pony Show?
Right off the bat, you will have to excuse my cynicism. When I saw the headline of this new ‘New Brunswick Business Council’ made up of the ‘top CEOs’ in the province whose mandate is to tackle the serious problems…
Continue ReadingA couple of interesting stories in the TJ this AM
Story #1: There will be no special side deal from Ottawa to help New Brunswick with its ambitious $1.875-billion prosperity plan, says the new federal point man for provincial grievances.Michael Chong, the federal minister for Intergovernmental Affairs, said the new…
Continue ReadingLeverage, leverage, leverage
Remember how I harp on the importance of using provincial funds to leverage private sector funds (i.e. spend $200M to get an auto plant with a $2 billion investment). Well, I think the same thing applies to the federal government.…
Continue ReadingProvincial election looming
I recently speculated that the Premier’s – almost bizarre – hard line against Tanker Malley was an indication that he and his advisors see an advantage to going to the polls this year – maybe even this spring. This view…
Continue ReadingNew Brunswick’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams
For those of you who don’t know my background, way back when in the early 1990s when I was fresh out of university, I got a short term job helping the NB Department of Economic Development write proposals for companies…
Continue ReadingFiscal Imbalance – Redux
You know on these pages I have been talking about the widely divergent views of the so-called ‘fiscal imbalance’ in Canada. My theory (based on public statements) is that in Ontario the fiscal imbalance means less of Ontario’s taxes going…
Continue ReadingCorrection on population data
Somebody questioned my recent use of 4/5 of New Brunswick communities in population decline. I have checked the Census and my number is not accurate. I apologize for this and in the future will refer to the right data. 70%…
Continue ReadingTimes & Trashscript vs. the CBC
I know I sound like a broken record with my T&T bashing but I truly believe it is very important to underscore the dangers of such a publication to the long term success of a province like New Brunswick. As…
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