I had hoped the mania over Donald Trump would die down over time. For more than a year after his election my Twitter and Facebook feeds (not so much LinkedIn) were so cluttered with fairly trivial Trump stories that I…
Continue ReadingInching towards the bilingualism 2.0 conversation
I have historically be reluctant to weigh in on the issue of ‘bilingualism’ in New Brunswick. It can be a polarizing subject with some believing we haven’t done enough and others suggesting it has gone too far. But it’s…
Continue ReadingBuilding out a cyber-security cluster
New Brunswick is trying to create a cybersecurity cluster. It has UNB researchers involved. It has several corporations involved – anchored by IBM/Q1 Labs. The government has set up CyberNB with a full team out there hustling to attract firm…
Continue ReadingA little good news, today (tip of the hat to Anne Murray)
Statistics Canada recently released its latest GDP and related figures for 2016 and New Brunswick has performed surprisingly well. Business capital spending is still very weak but household expenditures are up and overall GDP is up modestly over 2015. If…
Continue ReadingPutting the old fogies to work?
For some reason there has been an increase in media reporting on the plight of older Canadians/New Brunswickers in recent weeks. There are stories where the journalist (probably in his/her 20s) decries the fact that a 72 year old has…
Continue ReadingDriving on the Don Mills Growth Way
Someone recently posted the pollster Don Mills’ Seven Actions to Grow the Economy. Mills is primarily known as Atlantic Canada’s pollster as head of the firm Corporate Research Associates Inc. In recent years, he has redefined himself as the Jeremiah…
Continue ReadingThe myth of the skilled immigrant (?) Leveling the playing field
The new Census figures on immigration out this week were not that surprising. It confirms what we have been seeing – that New Brunswick’s urban centres are attracting more immigrants but having some trouble retaining them. The more interesting data…
Continue ReadingMaking sure Taintville doesn’t fall through the cracks
There is a place in the Miramichi area known as Taintville. Someone from the area told me it got its name because it’aint Newcastle and it’aint Chatham (anyone knowing the real story can send me a note). It seems to…
Continue ReadingHow’s she goin’, boys? In the Miramichi, she’s goin’ pretty good these days
In this sense, of course, ‘she’ is gender neutral. My father, sixth generation Miramichier, sidled up to my father-in-law one time (born and lives in Brazil and speaks a little English) and asked him “how’s she goin’?”. My father-in-law asked…
Continue ReadingMcKenna 20 years later: Learning from his legacy
In recent weeks I have been working on a project that has led me to chat with a bunch of business and government folk that were prominent in 1980s/1990s New Brunswick. In all cases the conversation eventually got around to…
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