I heard Don Roberts – the CIBC vice chair and forestry industry expert – give a talk on Friday. I had read his stuff but that was the first time I heard him talk. He has a clarity in approach…
Continue ReadingData centres redux
Someone asked about data centres in the threads. The truth is that a bunch of us were pushing NB to get out front and become an early adopter of this sector almost a decade ago. With the advent of large…
Continue ReadingDefining lazy
I was a guest on The Rutherford Show yesterday – I believe it is carried on a number of Alberta radio stations. He asked me if I think that Maritimers are lazy – because of a comment I made in…
Continue ReadingStealth equalization
One of the lessons that economists are taught is not to equate correlation with causality. For example, there may be a strong correlation between wealthy people and Italian shoes but that doesn’t mean that wearing Italian shoes will make you…
Continue ReadingAmbition
I have been reading about the new crop of Brazilian firms that are investing abroad – mining, manufacturing, construction – even services. As someone who has been travelling to Brazil for almost 20 years it has been an amazing transformation. …
Continue ReadingThe Constitution
Someone sent me the relevant portion of the Canadian constitution to point out the federal government can’t deeply cut equalization payments (see below). I have read this before and am actually fascinated by the language of this section of the…
Continue ReadingA Gladwellian moment on taxation
I have always struggled to understand why people seem to think that cutting corporate tax rates is so important to economic development. There is no data to back that up – beyond the need to have reasonable/average levels of corporate…
Continue ReadingWe will likely never eliminate equalization
I am quoted in a National Post article this morning entitled Movement grows to end Maritimes’ ‘dependency syndrome’. I think it is a good article and I think this conversation needs to be on the national stage. However, I think…
Continue ReadingLiteracy and job creation
The TJ has a good editorial today talking about the link between literacy and job creation. This is an important – vital issue to the economic and social development of the province. But, and I think this is an important…
Continue ReadingSeeking tax clarity
This is another recurring theme but as governments grapple with taxes and spending in fresh new ways these days, I think it is a good time to throw in my two cents. I think there needs to be far more…
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