I am coming off the fog of a fairly significant bout of the flu but I did have to rub my eyes a bit when I heard about the provincial government surplus. On the heals of the $14 billion federal…
Continue ReadingThe paradox of government wages
Yesterday, someone sent me a long winded email in response to my post recently about the government needing to hire real salespersons to promote New Brunswick. These guys/gals should be both in-market (as per the recommendations in 1955) and here…
Continue ReadingClarification
I wanted to clarify the comment I made responding to Danny D’Amours about Ganong. Certain people in economic development circles are crapping on New Brunswick’s manufacturers that are paying lower wages (say in the $8/hr to $12/hour range). They complain…
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I think I have mentioned in the past that I have a somewhat, let’s say, eclectic taste in music. Well, I have a similar dysfunction when it comes to movies. For example, I went through a Rutger Hauer phase. I…
Continue ReadingHas the population bleeding stopped?
Statistics Canada has just released its population estimates. New Brunswick dropped 2,094 from its population from 2005-2006 but added back 557 from 2006 to 2007. Everything is relative. Canada grew by an estimated 326,544 people from 2006 to 2007. If…
Continue ReadingMoney well – not well – spent?
Remember the $250 million forestry industry incentive package announced by the Lord government a couple of years ago? It seems to have worked (tongue firmly planted in cheek). Two more sawmills have been shuttered (Petitcodiac and Freddy) bringing the number…
Continue ReadingTransparency in economic development
I had to chuckle when I read the media reports of Donald Savoie’s ‘transparency’ and ‘openness’ in government report. It’s my experience – based on my limited exposure – that much is done to try and hide stuff. A couple…
Continue ReadingEast-west toll highway in Maine
This is a good initiative. I am sure that there will be “Toll Busters” trying to bring it down. I couldn’t believe the Atl. Provinces Trucking Association was griping about the ‘toll’ part of the highway. It will save a…
Continue ReadingGood news for the Miramichi
The construction of a bridge 4,000 kilometres away from Miramichi is part of the provincial government’s strategy to rebuild the economy of the northern New Brunswick city. The building of the Deh Cho Bridge in the Northwest Territories by the…
Continue ReadingDrivers of economic growth
Those of you mulling over the university thing, you may want to take a look at this. A top site selection firm looked at the economic drivers for growth cities in the United States. Having a major university was the…
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