The Manitoba example is an interesting one for us to consider as we think more deeply about immigration and the labour market. Even though Manitoba has no oil and gas industry and only a fairly small mining sector (less that…
Continue ReadingThe size of NB’s workforce is smaller now than back in 2008. Only province to shrink.
New Brunswick saw an uptick in job creation in the last few months on 2015 and an overall real GDP growth rate (the final number is not in) of likely something above one percent. That may not seem like much…
Continue ReadingThe importance of international investment into New Brunswick
Long time readers of this blog will know of my focus on positive investment flows as the underlying foundation for economic development. Because we are a small province, etc. most of the savings accumulated in New Brunswick flows out of…
Continue ReadingThe great Toronto out-migration problem?
Below is the chart I used in my presentation earlier this week to make the case that we can’t use outward migration of New Brunswickers as a reason not to attract immigrants. If you look at the number of…
Continue ReadingIs self-employment a bad thing or a potential boon for New Brunswick?
There was an interesting article in the Economist magazine this week about the rise of self-employment in Britain and the conclusion by economists that this is basically a bad thing. This runs somewhat counter to the “start-up” narrative that has…
Continue ReadingImmigration as a driver of economic growth
I keep hearing folks ask the question “how come we need more immigrants when we have high unemployment and young people moving out west for jobs”? The answer to this question is one of the keys to us getting our…
Continue ReadingNew Brunswick, if……
The Economist magazine has an interesting segment this week called “The World, if….” which provides a series of stories similar to its The World This Week but only at some point in the near future after Hillary Clinton is President. …
Continue ReadingWhy are we not promoting ‘homework’?
There is an excellent article in The Economist magazine this week about the rise of the freelance ‘bughunters’. These are folks who get paid to find bugs that hackers use to break into websites and secure networks. There are tens…
Continue ReadingOn higher wages and more taxes – a few thoughts
I have interesting conversations in my role here with GNB. Lots of folks offer a wide variety of commentary on what government needs to do to get the economy moving in the right direction. Most people talk about the need…
Continue ReadingAttracting high growth potential entrepreneurs (HGPEs) to New Brunswick
I just read that there is an incubator in Colorado focused on start-ups developing products and services for the emerging cannabis industry. This makes sense given Colorado’s laws related to the industry. It is a strategic advantage that most other…
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