I am finding it increasingly strange that the federal government can be reaping windfall budget surpluses while the two other levels of government across this country are, for the most part, finding it harder and harder to balance the books.…
Continue ReadingWatch out for manufacturing
Another warning sign about the New Brunswick economy was published yesterday but, as usual, the local paper was too busy crowing about the positive growth in Moncton to notice. Statistics Canada published their monthly survey of manufacturing shipments. This is…
Continue ReadingIt’s time for a new plan
I have been watching with great interest all the new talk about the need for more economic development in Atlantic Canada. First it was the Premier’s Prosperity Plan, then the Federal Liberal’s Rising Tide and now everyone has a plan…
Continue ReadingIncreasing housing prices = economic growth
This week Statistics Canada released their monthly New Housing Price Indexes for 21 urban areas in Canada. Because the three southern cities in New Brunswick are small, they lump them into one area for the purposes of this survey. The…
Continue ReadingTime. & Transcript rant about negativity
Now I know why the Times and Transcript newspaper hardly ever says a critical word about the provincial government and their economic development approach. They state in a recent We Say segment that the ‘real danger’ is “that unthinking and…
Continue ReadingSmile. Grimace. Sigh.
Don’t get me wrong, the title of this blog is meant to be ambiguous. I am very happy that the province decided to out bid Nova Scotia for the new Molson plant to be located in Moncton. However, the $100,000…
Continue ReadingN.B. leads in job growth – the spin of the Times and Transcript
I get a chuckle every month when Statistics Canada publishes its Labour Market Survey. When it shows bad numbers for New Brunswick, they (the Times and Transcript) try and find another positive trend. When it shows good numbers they hold…
Continue ReadingBrian Mulroney is Mr. Incredible?!
I took my kids to see the blockbuster film, The Incredibles, this weekend. The lead character, Mr. Incredible, is the spitting image of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. A few months ago, Report on Business Magazine reported on Brian Mulroney’s…
Continue ReadingThe real truth about NB’s employment figures
If you listen to the government’s interpretation of the labour force data that is published by Statistics Canada every month, you would get the feeling that things are going pretty good. You will hear comments like the Premier made to…
Continue ReadingLooking for leadership (like Harvey MacLeod)
I heard CBC personality Harvey MacLeod’s commentary yesterday on leadership. He thinks that the problems in the U.S. are the result of a lack of leadership. However, he quickly moved from the U.S. to Canada and to New Brunswick. He…
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