I’ll be glad with the NB Power generation assets sale is behind us. It’s getting downright silly out there. David Coon and Elizabeth Weir are for the deal, Janice Harvey is bitterly against it. People are planning to boycott Ganong because…
Continue ReadingInstructive Example
I was reading the latest RBC Economics report on provincial economies earlier today and I came across some interesting narrative. For New Brunswick, RBC reports that a massive government infrastructure program and income tax reform “has offered a substantial offset…
Continue ReadingGuns, Germs & Steel – along with lessons for Atl. Canada
I just listened to an excellent podcast featuring Jared Diamond and his latest publication Natural Experiments of History. Diamond is the guy who wrote Guns, Germs & Steel and another book I read called Collapse -both highly entertaining and informative.…
Continue ReadingEqualization will wither
When I first went to the States in 1985 to university as a 17 year old freshman, I remember having long talks with political science majors in the dorm late into the night. I remember thinking some of the crazy…
Continue ReadingMusings on sustainability, values, etc.
One of the stranger aspects of the NB Power deal is watching committed environmentalists fighting hard against a proposal that will move the province from 63% of its electricity production from burning fossil fuels to zero within 10 years (it…
Continue ReadingGroundhog day in Northern NB?
Somebody invoked that classic Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day yesterday in our conversation about the new northern NB strategy. Just another plan, another credenza creature while Rome burns. Obviously I have a tainted view here but I think this one…
Continue ReadingIs there a law of diminishing returns on entrepreneurship?
Thomas Friedman is calling on President Obama to create a million new entrepreneurs as a way to rebuild an innovative economy and grow out the recession. But as we have talked about here on multiple ocassions – can you just…
Continue ReadingNew economic development strategy for the North
I like this new strategy – it is clear in its objectives and I think the opportunities identified have merit – the real challenge will be marshalling the resources needed to get it done. There are a couple of very…
Continue ReadingA refreshed social contract
It’s a broad topic and I won’t cover it in detail today but I have been thinking lately that we need a new social contract between the business community and government. You will excuse me if I seem a bit incoherent…
Continue ReadingA grand old fashioned industrial policy
The Globe & Mail is reporting on a new deal between the Ontario government and Samsung: South Korean industrial giant Samsung Group will invest $7-billion in Ontario to build 2,500 megawatts of wind and solar power. Samsung and the Korea…
Continue Reading