Finally, a great new economic development idea implemented in New Brunswick. Wow, have we been waiting for this. Er. It’s in New Brunswick. New Jersey. Recently three “Innovation Zones” have been created in New Jersey — in Greater New Brunswick,…
Continue ReadingNot-tawa
I have to admit that I have a soft spot for Ottawa. It’s a beautiful town with some great restaurants and lots of things to do. But I get a little peeved when I read stuff like this. Basically, Ottawa…
Continue ReadingPrefer Sudbury to Kelowna
Interesting comparison between Saint John and Kelowna in today’s TJ. These kinds of comparisons are necessary but tricky. Kelowna has a pulp mill (like Saint John) but beyond that the comparison stops. Kelowna has been a top destination for affluent…
Continue ReadingMorning smile
I was listening to a BBC podcast of the Iowa caucus results last night. In that same podcast, they covered the ongoing crisis in Kenya. There was something interesting. The BBC announcer pronounced the following names like this: President of…
Continue ReadingFascination
Periodically, some T&T editor or other pundit will muse about how blessed we have been in New Brunswick to have strong political leadership going back decades. Nova Scotia columnist Charles Moore makes this case in his TJ column this morning:…
Continue ReadingQuality of life
What ever happened to Joey from that TV show Blossom? Come to think of it, what ever happened to Blossom? Digression. Joey was the dumb brother who would say ‘whoa’ a lot – particularly when he didn’t understand something. I…
Continue ReadingThe wheels on the bus go round and round
This is the front page of the Halifax Chronicle Herald in 1977. The top economic developer for Nova Scotia is trying to convince Nova Scotians that the province needs more global business investment to find a ‘balance’ between large investors…
Continue ReadingThree cheers for urbanity
The Globe & Mail has a story today entitled “Saint John gets its swagger back”. The article is a positive piece focused mostly on the energy sector in the city. New Brunswick needs a strong and vibrant Saint John. If…
Continue ReadingOne last point – the clustering effect
Most of you are familiar with Michael Porter’s work on industry clusters. Porter in the 1990s did a pile of research and concluded industries that are clustered in a geographic location have a far better chance of success in the…
Continue ReadingOn nostalgia and breaking entrenched thinking
Bill Belliveau mentions my recent piece on the need to attract more business investment here in his T&T column today. I have never met Bill Belliveau but I enjoy his columns and his CBC panel discussions. I also think he…
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