Just finally got around to reading Lucien Bouchard et. al’s manifesto Pour un Québec lucide. http://www.pourunquebeclucide.com I even like the use of the word ‘manifesto’. It has a vigorous tone to it like the ‘communist manifesto’ or something. Essentially, this…
Continue ReadingThe economic development activist movement
Sounds a little weird, doesn’t it. I am spending a lot of time holed up in a hotel room in Toronto working on a research project while the TV provides ambient noise in the background. However, one social activist caught…
Continue ReadingSpeechless
Sorry, not a provocative narrative here. Just bought Bruce Cockburn’s latest CD – Speechless – a totally instrumental recording. I have every CD he ever produced. Elegant stuff. For me, Bruce is the quintessential Canadian and among the best song…
Continue ReadingDispatches from the road: Toronto
Once again I find myself in Toronto – the epicentre of all things Canadiana. If Al Hogan thinks Moncton is ‘multicultural’, he should walk down Yonge Street. But, as usual, when I visit TO, I have ran into three people…
Continue ReadingQuebec to use McKenna model
Quebec’s Economic Development Minister Claude Bechard outlined a plan last week to make Quebec more competitive and attractive to investors. “The standard of living must rise faster than the Canadian average over the next five years,” Bechard said at a…
Continue ReadingHere we go again
Fraser announces the closure of a paper mill in Edmundston. Premier Lord will ‘do everything they can’ to help the workers and ‘we need to diversify’ the economy. Same week: Quebec announces $450 million in funding from the provincial and…
Continue ReadingThe Right is Wrong
I just finished reading another article about Equalization and the subsidization of ‘have not’ provinces. It was written by Lorne Gunter, another conservative thinker from Western Canada. What annoys me most about the ‘right’ in Canada falls in two areas:…
Continue ReadingA word about mandates
I have recieved several emails about this issue of who has the mandate for economic development. I say all levels of government – particularly local government – have a mandate for economic development. Remember one of my central theses. I…
Continue ReadingFraser closes Edmundston paper mill
It’s a scary thought but one that has been predicted for years. The natural resources based industries that have propped up New Brunswick’s economy for years are in decline. The latest example is the closure of the Fraser paper mill…
Continue ReadingRead the tea leaves, folks
I didn’t get a chance to visit either the Tory or Liberal meetings this weekend (actually I’ve never been to one but I am curious..). However, I would be interested to know if either party discussed this very real, looming…
Continue Reading