I have started to write this blog a half dozen times and then scrapped it because whenever you talk about language at all in this province you are bound to stir up raw feelings on all sides. I have talked…
Continue ReadingThe old ways of economic development
Someone told me the other day that their boss said he was very uncomfortable giving financial incentives to a company that had no corporate debt. He was very uncomfortable, in other words, giving taxpayer dollars to a company that “doesn’t…
Continue ReadingSelf delusion
I talked with a young economic developer this week for a couple of hours. He hasn’t been doing economic development that long but he told me that he felt there was a sense of self delusion among many economic developers…
Continue ReadingVW incentives
The total incentive package for the VW deal hasn’t even been calculated according to the Tennessee governor. However, they estimate it to be around $400 million in this article. But I think that number needs to be set in context.…
Continue ReadingVolkswagen redux
Someone reminded me this morning about the rumour last year that New Brunswick was at least pitching VW on the possibility of putting that plant in this province. I could never confirm this by any serious source but it was…
Continue ReadingThe Chattanooga Vroom Vroom
According to the Andrews Sisters, Chattanooga has always been about trains. Now it will be about cars. VW is putting a $944 million plant there that will employ 2,000 people. No word in this article about the size of the…
Continue ReadingNew Brunswick: Energy Transit point?
I just read this editorial advocating for a transCanada energy network and it got me thinking about New Brunswick and energy (again). I think we really need to get in on the Labrador hydro project. They will not push that…
Continue ReadingWhat a difference a year makes
Looking at the labour force data for June 2008 compared to last year shows some stark changes. In June 2007, employment over the previous 12 months was up by 8,500 people – the best growth in Canada. In June 2008,…
Continue ReadingBack from the hinterland
Back from 10 days of hiking, fishing and driving in Alaska, Yukon and the NWT. It’s beautiful country up there but not for the faint of heart. It got down to 3 degrees several times, it never got dark for…
Continue ReadingOff to Alaska
I’m off. This afternoon I leave on a 11 day backcountry hiking vacation. I’ll be back on these pages July 14th. Keep sending me interesting stories that you want blogged about and I’ll do a digest upon my return.
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