Nova Scotia has a long history of government funding for private business. It has taken many forms and over the years and has been subjected to varying degrees of public scrutiny and accountability. While supporting growing firms and providing for their ability to grow is an appropriate role for government, the question is how should …
Status Quo, you know, is Latin for “the mess we’re in.” – Ronald Reagan
This is an update of a piece originally published in The MacDonald Notebook in November of 2017. I wanted to re-publish as I believe it as relevant today as 14 months ago. Charlene Brophy is a force of nature. She’s the CEO of Fonemed, Newfoundland and Labrador’s wildly successful telemedicine company and the best sales …
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Broader Immigration and Investment in Equipment and Technology Key for Atlantic Canada: CFIB
Recently the federal government moved to make it easier to re-invest in technology and business infrastructure. The proposed tax measures will enable businesses to immediately write off the full cost of some types of machinery and equipment, and allow companies of all sizes and in all sectors to expense a larger share of newly acquired …
Fall Back Up with Wadih Fares
Fall Back Up with Francis P. McGuire
Francis P. McGuire is the President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. He has a rich career background in both government and in the private sector. From 1985 to 1997, he worked in Premier Frank McKenna’s administration, including as Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. He was responsible for attracting industry to the province …
Governments content to push pot, but leave employers on their own
As the person responsible for overseeing the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’s legislative activities for Atlantic Canada, I felt it important to show up, at this time last year, at the provincial government’s consultation on the legalization of cannabis. I was there to represent employers. Unfortunately, there weren’t many questions around the impact of the …
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What will a new sheriff in Alberta mean for Atlantic Canada?
I've known Jason Kenney since we met in Ottawa in 2000. I haven't always agreed with his positions but there is no arguing his ability to make a compelling argument. While nothing is certain in politics, odds are if the most recent polls hold, Mr. Kenney, the leader of the United Conservative Party, will be …
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Fall Back Up with Audrey Parker
This is a very personal podcast for me. Audrey Parker has been a close friend since the mid-1980s. Audrey is, as you will hear, a remarkable woman. She was born in the Annapolis Valley into a family of modest means but she always felt there was a very different path for her. Recently, Audrey has …
Fall Back Up with Don Mills
Don Mills is one of Atlantic Canada’s best-known voices on public opinion and public policy. Don co-founded Corporate Research Associates Inc. (CRA) in 1978 and he remains passionate about his business and his Atlantic Canadian home. Over the years, he has built CRA into one of the region’s most prominent research firms and its reputation stretches …
Fall Back Up with Joost Janssen
I first was introduced to Joost Janssen through his childhood friend and former Halifax MLA Joachim Stroink. The two knew each other as youngsters, growing up as Dutch immigrants in Nova Scotia in the 1970’s. Joost Janssen was born in Holland but his parents moved to Halifax from Holland when he was very young. As …
