We are starting to see some interesting initiatives to stimulate tourism spending in New Brunswick. I love this Base Camp Saint Awesome initiative. On the front page we are told “it’s Blursday in New Brunswick!”. As I have said before…
Continue ReadingBack to the land: Busy creating real value
After having just scrolled through a couple of hundred Tweets populated with outrage, absurdity and falsehood, I clicked on this Huddle story about Veronica Paul and her hops farming operation in New Brunswick. Maybe it was my state of mind…
Continue ReadingSaskatchewan’s big, hairy, audacious economic development project
One of my mantras over the years has been the term “appropriate role for government” when it comes to economic development. I want government officials, policy makers and community leaders to put serious thought into this question. I’m not sure…
Continue ReadingTurning Point? Sharing the dividends of growth
I enjoyed being part of the recent Turning Point Webinar series. It was primarily a series of discussions about the New Brunswick economy including the link between economic growth, government finances and the quality and sustainability of public services (the…
Continue ReadingNova Scotia’s Now or Never: How did that work out?
One of the areas of exploration in this blog has been the deconstruction of the many economic development plans for New Brunswick since the McKenna era and the conclusion for the most part that none of them were successful. Lord’s…
Continue ReadingMaritime Iron: I was going to be outraged… then I just shrugged
When I heard that Maritime Iron was putting its $1.5 billion iron processing plant project on hold, I searched the news sites and social media for signs of outrage. After all, it’s not every day someone proposes a $1.5 billion…
Continue ReadingSkin in the game challenge: Covid-19 edition
Over the years I have written a lot about the ‘skin in the game’ challenge associated with public policy. Many times the loudest voices are those with nothing to lose and those with the most to lose – get drowned…
Continue ReadingThe oil and gas dilemma: Who has skin in the game?
One of the more problematic characteristics of the debate related to oil and gas development in Canada is that those who are dead set against any new investment in the industry (E&P, pipes, etc.) tend to be those who have…
Continue ReadingA Saint John Legend has passed. Pat Darrah: RIP
One of the things I am most grateful for in my career is that I have had the opportunity to meet and discuss economic development many of New Brunswick’s leading business, community and political leaders. Somewhere in the 2007-2008 time…
Continue ReadingThe relentless challenge of focus
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. -Reinhold Niebuhr I have enjoyed playing a role in the Turning Point series hosted by…
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