One of the main ways that economic developers convince government to invest in new economic development projects is by using an economic multiplier analysis. The logic is that for every new private sector dollar invested in a local economy, the…
Continue ReadingNews Flash! Great News!
I can’t believe it! This is wonderful news! The Government of New Brunswick and the Federal Government have partnered and attracted a $2.5 billion auto plant to Moncton! The two levels of government are investing $400 million! No, wait. I…
Continue ReadingEbb and Flow – right out of New Brunswick
If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that a central theme of mine is the need for the public to become more engaged in the process of economic development. To start taking this issue…
Continue ReadingDon’t raise the ire of the T&T
We all know what can happen when you get the Times and Trashscript mad. Just ask the proponents of the Fredericton-Moncton toll highway. Or the auto insurance industry. Or, more recently, the provincial decision not to build a ‘cath’ lab…
Continue ReadingThe Town needs an enema
I was recently watching one of Jack Nickelson’s best performances of all time (in my opinion) as the colourful Joker in the original Batman movie. During one of his many profound rants during the film, the Joker yells out ‘This…
Continue ReadingIt’s been a good week for Nova Scotia
In the world of economic development, getting media coverage is a key part of raising your community’s profile which is an important step in the ultimate attraction of businesses, people and investment. Nova Scotia recieved not one but two major,…
Continue ReadingThe new self-reliance
I forced myself to listen the whole federal government budget speech delivered yesterday. I knew full well that it has become a marketing effort but I thought there would be some clues as to the mindset of the government. That’s…
Continue ReadingStrange Bedfellows
What do Brian Lee Crowley, John Manyard Keynes and Karl Marx have in common? Brian Lee Crowley is the head of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, an organization that believes that the market, and only the market, should decide…
Continue ReadingWhat’s the big deal?
Yesterday, the Federal government announced that it would be giving $115 million to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited to support an economic development project in Montreal. I don’t know that I have much to say about this except that it…
Continue ReadingApathy, cynicism & denial
It seems to me that the public has basically three responses to the rhetoric of politicians: apathy, cynicism and denial. The vast majority of folks don’t seem to care one way or another (unless they are directly impacted by a…
Continue Reading