Sometimes I really do feel old. I remember over a decade ago – probably more like 12-13 years ago researching micropayments and how that would be the future of Web-based transactions. I see that the NYT is looking to charge…
Continue ReadingNo New Brunswick cities on the ICF list this year
Two years ago Moncton and Fredericton were on the ICF list of top seven intelligent communities – now there are none. Someone told me the short list of 20 communities was very strong this year and that is why Moncton may…
Continue ReadingMedia watch
At the risk of another round of threats and pitchforks, I can’t resist another little jab at the media over this NB Power thing. I caught – just about 20 minutes of the Rogers call in show today of course…
Continue ReadingNew NB Power deal
I’ve been asked at least a dozen times in the past 24 hours if I like the new NB Power/HQ deal. Remember back to my reasoning for supporting the initial proposal: It resets NB Power’s cost structure to a much…
Continue ReadingThe Frank Factor
It’s been 13 years since former Premier Frank McKenna resigned and he still has pretty amazing resonance. I was in a room of maybe 25 people today and the speaker made a passing reference to ‘Frank’ – not ‘Frank McKenna,…
Continue ReadingClassic case
The Canadian Press is running a story (picked up here) about seven firms that have received funding from ACOA for the past 20 years. This is a classic case of what I have been talking about. Read the article and…
Continue ReadingHave we moved the ball down the field?
A few weeks ago someone posted here that guys like me need to shoulder much of the blame for New Brunswick’s inability to chart a new and successful economic course. It was in response, I think, to a comment I…
Continue ReadingOn the CBoC city magnets report
I just read the Globe & Mail story on the CBoC report on magnet cities. I read five or six of these comparisons each year and you can poke holes in the all. Consider the MacLean’s crime report which has ‘Codiac’…
Continue ReadingHaiti
I’d love to get the opportunity to get involved in economic development in a place like Haiti. I’ve read Hernando De Soto’s work and other best practices in third world economic development and I think it is possible to take…
Continue ReadingMore focus on productivity
Two large call centre closure announcements in the past week. Eddie Bauer just announced they are shutting down their Saint John facility. Eddie Bauer went into bankruptcy protection a year ago – I suspected they would look to outsource their…
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