I see the Atlantica Centre for Energy has produced some new videos under the heading “common ground” where they interview those for and against shale gas development. I applaud this effort and hope we really can get to some common…
Continue ReadingThe ‘long game’ should target a stronger economy
Below is my recent TJ column on EI usage in New Brunswick and how the new reforms may be having an impact. During the 2006 federal election campaign, we were warned that if elected Stephen Harper would slash and burn…
Continue ReadingHarvard business professor Clayton Christensen is, ahem, missing the point
Spare me the clichés but here we go again. Newspaper wants to find someone who will criticize NSBI. Finds Harvard professor. And totally misses the point. From the article: Payroll rebates and other incentives designed to attract businesses to Nova…
Continue ReadingIncremental value of exports. Up by billions with a B!
Just a few points on the story in the TJ today about the rise in exports. Almost all of the net growth comes from the oil refinery and as I point out while that is fine – the value of…
Continue ReadingIf a job falls in the forest, does it make a noise?
The reduction in employment in Canada’s forestry industry has been profound in the past two decades. In 1992, there were over 77,000 people working directly in the forestry sector (not including downstream processing, transportation, etc.) and now it is down…
Continue ReadingWill New Brunswick ever see employment growth again?
One of the most important public policy issues right now in New Brunswick is hardly being discussed at all – beyond a superficial level. Since a small growth spurt in the middle of the last decade, the New Brunswick economy…
Continue ReadingCommuting data affirms importance of cities
Here is my recent TJ column on the role of cities serving as employment centres for broader geographic territories: If New Brunswick is to revive its economy and get back on a path to fiscal sustainability, it will require more…
Continue ReadingLearning from PropelICT
If you didn’t get a chance to read my recent column in the TJ on PropelICT, here it is: In 1972, the crooner Jim Croce warned “you don’t tug on Superman’s cape; you don’t spit into the wind; you don’t pull the mask…
Continue ReadingDriving around for work – interesting stuff
One of the more interesting data sets from the 2011 National Household Survey is the commuting data. It compares where people work to where they live and you get some very interesting trends. Take the example of Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe. These may…
Continue ReadingDon’t coddle start-ups
In case you have missed it start-ups are the hottest new trend in economic development thinking. Not small business. Not attracting industries. Not fostering more university research. Nowadays we are heavily focused on trying to foster new technology-based start up…
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