Monthly Archives: September 2017

I had a conversation recently with someone who thought we could learn from China as with think about economic development in Atlantic Canada.  He was an admirer of all the state intervention, planning, the 20-year plans to be the world … Continue reading →

You might have heard that Amazon is shopping around a 50,000 person head office to U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions with one million or more in population.   It is easily the largest single firm economic development project shopped around like … Continue reading →

I’m fascinated by how the proposed federal tax changes meant to “level the playing field” and “ensure that the richest 1% of Canadians pay their fair share of taxes” is playing out in the media and in the public at … Continue reading →

  As I have written about here many times New Brunswick does have a productivity challenge.  We have to be a little careful we talk about productivity because different industries have different mixes of labour, capital and technology so comparing … Continue reading →

Almost 25 years ago I took my first post-MBA job in New Brunswick. It was with the NB Department of Economic Development and Tourism (EDT) or maybe it was the NB Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture (?). Anyway, … Continue reading →

New Brunswick’s three larger urban centres (Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John) are trying to do something that is rare in recent Canadian history – dramatically increase immigration.  Historically, most immigrants have flowed into the largest urban centres – without substantial … Continue reading →

There was a good article in the Globe & Mail recently outlining New Brunswick’s demographic challenges and how that is dampening the economic potential of the province.  It certainly wasn’t a positive article – but it wasn’t the typical hatchet … Continue reading →