I have said many times that I prefer that a jurisdiction make an effort to have a competitive corporate tax rate (around the average among competitor jursidictions) and then use targeted tax cuts to incentivize specific behaviour (like business investment).…
Continue ReadingEmployment levels
The employment level in December in New Brunswick dropped fairly substantially. As I have pointed out many times before, there are always going to be swings in the monthly data. The important thing to look at is the trending over…
Continue ReadingThe Ruse of the Creative Class
There is a great article in the American Prospect this week on the Richard Florida cult and how he is modifying his views. He has been chargin $35,000 per talk to tell every small and medium sized community across North…
Continue ReadingSenate reform
The Globe & Mail has an interesting story today on Harper’s plans to try and get senate reform back on the docket. Apparently, Atl. Canadians are outraged. Premier Dexter will fight the good fight. In Atlantic Canada, where the provinces…
Continue ReadingBlink vs. Squint
I have been avoiding commenting on the NB Power deal because there are a few people that get all bent out of joint and send me really nasty comments and I don’t appreciate the abuse. There have been some interesting…
Continue ReadingMinimum wage
There are a few constants in life: death, taxes and the CFIB opposing increases to the minimum wage. After having studied this issue in detail, I remain convinced of two things: 1) the government should have a competitive minimum wage (compared…
Continue ReadingEducating the Citizenry
I have read several ‘outlook for 2010’ articles relating to Northern New Brunswick that were surprisingly positive. I think one was even titled something like ‘big things for Miramichi in 2010’ or similar. I hope so – I really do. In…
Continue ReadingOn Mike Murphy
I only met him a couple of times – he invited me to lunch one time to talk about economic development when he was an opposition MLA. I think he was certainly one of the Liberals strongest Cabinet ministers and I…
Continue ReadingAn unreviewed decade
Back in the office today after nearly two weeks away. I missed most of the media while out of the country so I spent sometime over the weekend looking at recent articles (online) and I can’t find a whole lot…
Continue ReadingEGM adds value
I wasn’t able to keep up with the news as I should have while I was away the last two weeks but I see now that our old friend Al Hogan had a little bomb shell to lob over the…
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