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 ReadingThink Big. It is time for a little more ambition across the Maritimes
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 ReadingPitchforks protecting Plutocrats? Don’t mess with the entrepreneurial risk premium.
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 ReadingHave you seen the Merv and Cook Show? An idea to boost our productivity.
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 ReadingAre we a hustling, striving place or a great place to slow down and relax? Depends on who you ask.
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 ReadingFighting the biggest battle of our time with one hand tied behind our back
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 ReadingStop your obsession with youth out-migration, please
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