I am fairly certain that I am not the only one grumbling about the 7-8% increase in electricity rates this year. And now the Premier is warning of an addition 4%-6% if they refurbish the Lepreau power plant. One of…
Continue ReadingBring back Connect NB
A New York Times article last week discussed a new strategy in Brazil that provides incentives for low income Brazilians to buy computers and gain access to the Internet. The Brazilian government believes that wider access to computers and the…
Continue ReadingDon’t confuse politics with economics
In this blog you will find me vigorously defending the use of taxpayer dollars to support economic development. For example, you will find me passionately supporting government spending tens of millions of dollars to support a billion dollar auto plant…
Continue ReadingThere is no shortcut to prosperity
“There is no shortcut to prosperity.” These are the words of New Brunswick Finance Minister Volpe yesterday. Well, the province has one of the slowest rates of growth in Canada, and is predicted by some analysts to be dead last…
Continue ReadingThe Lord’s Immigration Strategy
For a number of years, the N.B. government has been ‘talking’ about immigration but doing almost nothing. In the last five years, we have received only about 1/3 of the immigrants that came to New Brunswick in the early 1970s…
Continue ReadingThe myth of tax cuts
I know I have talked about this subject before but after the new Lord budget promising additional small tax cuts to individuals and small businesses, I felt it appropriate to raise the point again. Bernard Lord was elected in 1999…
Continue ReadingPop quiz
Today, we test your knowledge of government subsidization of industry (AIMS, Frasier and CTF employees ineligible to take this test). Only one answer is correct. The question is: What is Canada’s most subsidized industry (by governments)? A. Aerospace/transportation equipment (Bombardier,…
Continue ReadingFighting the same battle from different angles
I sympathize with the writer of recent letter to the editor of the Times & Trash-script entitled N.B.’s poor need help. The gentleman laid out a well articulated case for increasing social assistance to New Brunswick’s poor. The cost of…
Continue ReadingUsing government to prop up the economy
I most likely am going to take some flak for this blog from my good friends in the public service. Most of them are credible, highly qualified and competent workers trying to make the world a slightly better place from…
Continue ReadingA Tale of Two Tory Premiers
I have been a vocal critic of the lack of focus on economic development in the province over the past number of years. I believe that it has led directly to the population crisis, the EI problem, youth out-migration and…
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