I count more than a dozen stories in the media in recent weeks about the wave of people moving to New Brunswick and the Maritimes from Ontario. Apparently UHaul trucks are piling up in local lots. Real estate agents have…
Continue ReadingWhat if New Brunswick had developed a natural gas industry?
Someone asked me this week if I had changed my mind about my support for the development of the natural gas industry in New Brunswick back in the 2007-2013 timeframe. He cited the low price of natural gas now and…
Continue ReadingAddressing climate change: Still fretting over the skin in the game problem
I followed the coverage of the new federal government climate change plan this week with some interest. My general view is that it was mostly met with a shrug. There were a few dire warnings in the National Post and…
Continue ReadingNew EI data reveals we still have a way to go on economic recovery
Until recently there were around 30,000 people in New Brunswick with their jobs supported using the CEWS program and a similar amount collecting the CERB benefit. A modified CEWS was continued into next year and the CERB has become an…
Continue ReadingHigher education research: There is no time for navel gazing. We need a lot more.
A few years ago the top five research universities in Canada got together and proposed that the country should concentrate all serious high education research activities in those five. We were told it would help us compete with global universities…
Continue ReadingBoosting manufacturing in New Brunswick: Realistic or pipe dream?
On December 10th, the JDI Roundtable is hosting a webinar called Manufacturing Competitiveness as our Strategy for Post-COVID Economic Recovery. This webinar will feature a panel discussion on what we could do for the economy of New Brunswick with a…
Continue ReadingBuilding back better: Air travel edition
With all the talk about fundamentally changing the world in the wake of the pandemic, I would settle for getting back to normalcy. Air travel is a good example. As I have written before we have made substantial progress in…
Continue ReadingCutting personal income tax rates to attract migrants
A former colleague of mine known for his flashy shirts recently asked me to comment on the potential of a steep personal income tax (he recommended zero) to entice mobile professional workers to move here. Would, he asked, the increase…
Continue ReadingDaryl Branscombe and New Brunswick’s Travelling Wilburys
Daryl Branscombe started a group a couple of years ago called the Coalition of Concerned Citizens. It is made up mostly of wizened New Brunswickers who formerly held senior roles in government, community and industry. I admire what they are…
Continue ReadingRecommendation to the Premier: Employ the quid pro quo approach
One of my economics professors in University was particularly lavish in his use of Latin phrases. I mean they all use some standard phrases – ceteris paribus, a priori, etc. but this guy seemed to be speaking another language. Almost…
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