I just started reading a new book called Boomtown USA – 7 1/2 steps to big success in small towns. In this book, the author looks at over 300 small, rural towns, picks out the successful ones and then trys…
Continue ReadingCollapse takes a few years
I recently finished reading Jarod Diamond’s new book, Collapse which is an in depth look at why societies, in his words, choose to succeed or fail. His angle is mostly environmental – deforestation, depleting of natural resources, soil erosion, etc.…
Continue ReadingWhere are the Anglos?
Whenever someone mentions language in Moncton, people bristle. It’s a taboo subject. Everyone’s worried that any kind of analysis will erode the many positive steps that have been taken in the past few decades to make Greater Moncton a vibrant…
Continue ReadingPatronage & Economic Development
I have said before and I’ll say it again – patronage and economic development don’t mix. If you (i.e. the Premier) feel compelled to give a former MLA a high paying job in government, put them in charge of parking…
Continue ReadingTimes & Trash-script goes way too far
I am not sure what’s worse. The province for trying to massively exaggerate its small business tax break or the Times & Trash-script for printint it – without even thinking for a minute about the absurdity of what they are…
Continue ReadingBenefits of the big fish
I have always believed that you need to attract large anchor companies to support a region’s economic development – especially economically depressed areas such as Atlantic Canada. My pleas have gone unnoticed as the projects being attracted to the region…
Continue ReadingSo heavenly minded, no earthly good
My father, a former Baptist minister, used to say that people could be so heavenly minded they were no earthly good. The interpretation of this saying is simple. For a Baptist, people are put on this world for a reason.…
Continue ReadingVroom, Vroom goes the economy
For those of you interested in New Brunswick political trivia, Vroom-Vroom was the nickname of old Tory cabinet minister Jean Gauvin as a result of his penchant for fast cars. But this blog is not about Jean – although many…
Continue ReadingHrabluk the statistician
You would think that Lisa Hrabluk is on the provincial payroll. Her columns continually put forward positive images of the provincial government and its programs in economic development, education and other key areas. This despite the fact that we are…
Continue ReadingImmigration, what immigration?
Occasionally, I criticize the subsidies for farmers and I am not backing away from that position. However, you know what I like about farmers? You can’t fake farming. Crops either grow or they don’t. That’s refreshing. Unfortunately, in the realm…
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