You know the old economics term: opportunity cost? It’s a helpful tool when looking at economic development. Wikipedia’s definition is not quite perfect but it works: Opportunity cost is the theoretical cost of passing up the next best choice in…
Continue ReadingAlec Bruce in Area Development
Our friend Alec Bruce as a nice puff piece in Area Development magazine this month. His writing there still has the wit but not the biting satire of the stuff he puts in the local paper. Maybe this is a…
Continue ReadingWhat’s a Tory? Part 723
I have an ongoing theme on this blog about the ideology of Progressive Conservatives in New Brunswick. As you know, I lean small c conservative in my politics and my views on the interaction between government and the people. But,…
Continue ReadingIt’s the Economy, Stupid Podcast (June 30 edition)
Here is the podcast for this week. I look at immigration, airports, and the need to give a hard look at how major, systemic changes to government are accomplished in the province. Have a good week!
Continue ReadingPost secondary reform
In like a lion, out like a lamb. Remember the outcry when the first round of the post secondary reform was rolled out? Now, the report is released and the 7-8 stories I have read on this have been about…
Continue ReadingFrench Immersion
Just got back from that information session on the proposed changes to the French Immersion system. I have fairly strong feelings on this but I know my judgement is clouded by my personal situation (three kids in the system). But…
Continue ReadingSalutations from St. John’s
Second time over here in the past few weeks. Good town. Fantastic people. Drizzly and 9 degrees this morning. I see that Stephen Lund from NSBI made the list of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs this year. It’s a well…
Continue ReadingThey like us, they really do
That title is a little play on John Candy’s words in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Just to pick up on the immigration theme that I am spending more time on lately. It is my sense that there is a small…
Continue ReadingPeeing in the Wheaties this morning
If you can read this, it’s my latest column designed to annoy just about everyone. I am calling for the consolidation of NB’s air services into one single airport for the province. Ouch. But don’t judge me until you read…
Continue ReadingJobs are the thing
I am sitting in a session with 12 immigrants (blogging in real time). They love it here but the key is the job. Spouses can’t find jobs. Others are underemployed. But they all say that if there were good career…
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