It's The Economy, Stupid

If you pick up the Telegraph-Journal this morning you see a front page story about the new Canadian Business ranking of Best Cities for Business in Canada. Saint John ranks 6th in Canada and Moncton has dropped from 1st two…

The Feds cut $1 billion in ‘wasteful spending’ yesterday (even as they announced a $13B surplus). One of interest: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Industry (FedNor), Social Sciencies & Humanities Research…

I wrote a fairly positive blog on Michael Ignatieff’s position on regional economic development a few weeks ago. This after he said that the alienation that is emerging from the considerable disparities in economic development across Canada are a serious…

You know the old saying about the dog that chases the car and actually catches it – then what does he do? Donald Savoie’s recent book full of fairly harsh criticism for central Canada and Ottawa’s approach to regional development…

There are a few U.S. governors that are leading the pack when it comes to proactive economic development. Iowa Governor Vilsack has done a number of important things including significant new spending, new people attraction strategies and sector-specific recruitment. Illinois…

I was curious about all the speculation about ‘who’ would be the new Cabinet – as if all the talk amounts to much. Nevertheless, I add my two cents to the mix. First, I am surprised at how downplayed the…

I am fascinated by a new study out by Stats Can today that looks at labour and income trends. The study in fact confirms a few interesting trends that I have been tracking. One, the rapid rise of females in…

I had a very interesting chat yesterday with a former provincial economic development guy. He was musing about the election, economic development and the province’s future. Good insight to be sure. But almost by accident, I casually asked him what…

Here’s a thought. Why is it that everyone talks about ‘Shawn’ and ‘Lord’? Almost without exception when the media or bloggers want to talk about either Shawn Graham or Bernard Lord and they want to use one name, it’s is…

I just saw a program on Maine PBS that’s called something like “Local Economies” which is a weekly show that rotates around Maine looking at economic development issues. This week it was about how small rural towns are trying to…