I’m a pretty mellow guy but one thing that grinds my gears is when Ontario-based experts equate Northern Ontario and New Brunswick. This includes Mr. Ignatieff who made the same off-handed point one time while in New Brunswick. New Brunswick…
Continue ReadingToo small to fail
A couple of weeks ago I looked at a pile of data relating to Ontario’s economy and fiscal situation. I have been listening to Commonwealth Club of California podcasts on the state of the California economy. These places are facing…
Continue ReadingWe’re all in this together
Over the past couple of weeks I have had the opportunity to travel around New Brunswick and talk to various groups about some of the challenges facing the province over the next few years and make the point that we…
Continue ReadingOn the importance of mini-urbans (not Mini-Austins)
I was asked to participate in a forum yesterday looking at the future of one of the important industries in New Brunswick. The invitation asked the participants not to discuss the event publicly so I will respect that admonition. But I…
Continue ReadingA few thougths on Convergys
One of the largest American call centre outsourcers announced last week it was closing its Truro facility – just about the time the company’s payroll rebate scheme ran out prompting some – including a Minister in the government to suggest the…
Continue ReadingCirtwell should check his facts
Have you ever noticed that some people see what they want to see? Check out Charles Cirtwell’s interview in the TJ today. Much of what he says I agree with – particularly about New Brunswick not being a basketcase. But…
Continue ReadingTelecom wars
I don’t know if you have been following it but the idea of letting more foreign investment into Canada’s telecom industry is a major battle right now – probably second in terms of intensity to the move towards a single…
Continue ReadingPoll-y-anna
As a guy who does a pile of research and data crunching, one of the things I am most fascinated and puzzled by are public opinion polls (and all polls for that matter). The latest CRA poll finds the economy…
Continue ReadingHard habit to break
Was it Chicago that used to sing “you’re a hard habit to break”? We have a new political party in New Brunswick and their economic development policies sound (and act) just like the other two parties. The People’s Alliance of…
Continue Reading1960
I spent some time last night going through the Statistics Canada Year Book for 1960 and comparing some of the data to 2010. It’s my parents 50th wedding anniversary and I thought it would be interesting to look at the…
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