From a recent column I wrote in the TJ. This is an issue I think needs far more discussion. I recently had a long talk with a person involved in economic development in southern Ontario who was ranting and raving…
Continue ReadingOpportunity 2000: 2014 edition
I just watched the video that was prepared for the Opportunity 2000 conference that was held in Moncton – I think it was in 1989 – 25 years ago. The music, clothes, cars, etc. in that video look ancient but…
Continue ReadingMore failures, please
You want to know one of the main reasons why the Maritimes economy has underperformed the rest of Canada. Read this article. Rarely in the history of man has anyone gotten the cause and effect relationship so twisted around. A Halifax…
Continue ReadingSeeking a $4.1 billion GDP boost in New Brunswick
Dominic Cardy would scrap the Department of Economic Development and put the money into ‘small business’. Brian Gallant is planning to make New Brunswick the Smart Province. Premier Alward is chipping away. What we need to know is the strategy…
Continue ReadingMuckraking ain’t what it used to be
It is kind of interesting to see the little rift within the journalism community over shale gas development. The Philip Lee / Halifax Media Co-op dust up is a good example. I wrote a bit about this a while ago…
Continue ReadingEncouraging ambitious young NBers to think entrepreneurship
My column this morning in the TJ discussed an idea that I have been kicking around in recent months. We know that a lot of really bright young New Brunswickers leave the province because they “can’t find a good job…
Continue ReadingComplaining about economic development: 7 themes
Just about every time there is a new jobs announcement (there were two this week related to IT companies expanding in New Brunswick), I’ll either get disgruntled emails, have cranky conversations or read about why this is a bad thing…
Continue ReadingMaking wise decisions in an age of information overload: 21Inc edition
From a recent column in the TJ: A few months ago Nadine Duguay, Executive Director of 21 Inc., asked me if I would be interested in speaking at the Emerging Leaders Summit. The 50 Emerging Leaders program is an initiative…
Continue ReadingIs the best yet to come in New Brunswick?
From a recent column in the TJ: The latest jobs numbers from Statistics Canada underscore New Brunswick’s ongoing economic challenges. In October 2007, on a seasonally adjusted basis, there were 356,900 people working in the province. Fast forward six full…
Continue ReadingAldea, the Biz Hall of Fame and Ambition
I was happy to see Aldea Landry inducted into the JA Business Hall of Fame last night. She’s not a traditional candidate – someone who built a large and successful business in New Brunswick – but she has had an…
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