For a number of years, the N.B. government has been ‘talking’ about immigration but doing almost nothing. In the last five years, we have received only about 1/3 of the immigrants that came to New Brunswick in the early 1970s…
Continue ReadingThe myth of tax cuts
I know I have talked about this subject before but after the new Lord budget promising additional small tax cuts to individuals and small businesses, I felt it appropriate to raise the point again. Bernard Lord was elected in 1999…
Continue ReadingPop quiz
Today, we test your knowledge of government subsidization of industry (AIMS, Frasier and CTF employees ineligible to take this test). Only one answer is correct. The question is: What is Canada’s most subsidized industry (by governments)? A. Aerospace/transportation equipment (Bombardier,…
Continue ReadingFighting the same battle from different angles
I sympathize with the writer of recent letter to the editor of the Times & Trash-script entitled N.B.’s poor need help. The gentleman laid out a well articulated case for increasing social assistance to New Brunswick’s poor. The cost of…
Continue ReadingUsing government to prop up the economy
I most likely am going to take some flak for this blog from my good friends in the public service. Most of them are credible, highly qualified and competent workers trying to make the world a slightly better place from…
Continue ReadingA Tale of Two Tory Premiers
I have been a vocal critic of the lack of focus on economic development in the province over the past number of years. I believe that it has led directly to the population crisis, the EI problem, youth out-migration and…
Continue ReadingBoomtown USA
I just started reading a new book called Boomtown USA – 7 1/2 steps to big success in small towns. In this book, the author looks at over 300 small, rural towns, picks out the successful ones and then trys…
Continue ReadingCollapse takes a few years
I recently finished reading Jarod Diamond’s new book, Collapse which is an in depth look at why societies, in his words, choose to succeed or fail. His angle is mostly environmental – deforestation, depleting of natural resources, soil erosion, etc.…
Continue ReadingWhere are the Anglos?
Whenever someone mentions language in Moncton, people bristle. It’s a taboo subject. Everyone’s worried that any kind of analysis will erode the many positive steps that have been taken in the past few decades to make Greater Moncton a vibrant…
Continue ReadingPatronage & Economic Development
I have said before and I’ll say it again – patronage and economic development don’t mix. If you (i.e. the Premier) feel compelled to give a former MLA a high paying job in government, put them in charge of parking…
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