Just a quick blog today. I believe that social programs such as welfare are a necessary part of society. They should be a safety net for folks that fall through the cracks. I truly believe that how we treat the…
Continue ReadingThe Twilight Zone – T&T Style
Now any of you that read my blog on a regular basis will know that I am not the biggest fan of the Times & Transcript. I believe they continue to use their medium to advance very narrow ideas that…
Continue ReadingBuilding Permits down sharply
It would seem that if you want endless, day in/day out stories about Cath Labs, you should read the Times & Transcript on a daily basis. If you want any economic data or important statistics, you better look elsewhere. The…
Continue ReadingSheep, cattle & economic development
No, this blog will not evaluate the role of agriculture in economic development. Rather, it will be a reflection on something that my father said to me this weekend. He was rambling about Paul Martin and his ‘dithering’ when he…
Continue ReadingSchizophrenia – government style
The dictionary defines schizophrenia as a mental disorder that causes a separation between the thought processes and the emotions. In the last couple of weeks we have witnessed government-style schizophrenia around the issue of Employment Insurance. On the one hand,…
Continue ReadingOne more thing on GM
I find it kind of interesting that when Ontario (and Montreal last week) want to do economic development, they don’t fool around with ‘innovation’ or ‘skills development’ or ‘capacity building’. The just give GM $400 million and let them worry…
Continue ReadingHo hum. $750 million for Bombardier
I hear this morning that Bombardier will most likely receive a government incentive package worth some $750 million to expand in the Montreal area (cash, tax breaks, etc.). What’s amazing about Bombardier is that it is starting to look a…
Continue ReadingThose darn multipliers
One of the main ways that economic developers convince government to invest in new economic development projects is by using an economic multiplier analysis. The logic is that for every new private sector dollar invested in a local economy, the…
Continue ReadingNews Flash! Great News!
I can’t believe it! This is wonderful news! The Government of New Brunswick and the Federal Government have partnered and attracted a $2.5 billion auto plant to Moncton! The two levels of government are investing $400 million! No, wait. I…
Continue ReadingEbb and Flow – right out of New Brunswick
If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that a central theme of mine is the need for the public to become more engaged in the process of economic development. To start taking this issue…
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