“Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” - Hanlon's Razor
Nova Scotia’s Antiquated Liquor Laws Need a Complete Overhaul
This week, the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia tabled legislation to allow delivery services such as Uber Eats and Skip the Dishes deliver beer and wine on behalf of the restaurants providing the food. It’s a fairly simple idea and it shouldn’t really be too contentious. Except our current liquor legislation is built on …
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Nova Scotia Payroll Tax Rebates – Let’s look at broad relief rather than just picking winners and losers
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 …
