In the never-never land of government-inspired "economic development," a sprinkling of pixie dust and a new name can rehabilitate discredited old ideas. Despite its dismal record at picking "winners" such as the Bricklin sports car, the New Brunswick government has recently decided to mould business "clusters" across its industrial landscape in the form of the "Plastics Valley" of North America. AIMS Director of Research comments in the National Post
Nova Scotia's unemployment rate rose in November, but the reasons hold promise for the provincial economy. Statistic Canada reported the province's unemployment rate last month rose to 10.1 per cent, up from October's 9.5. The national trend rate fell slightly to 7.5. the provincial economy actually added 6,000 jobs -- most of them part-time -- in November, while losing another 3,000, a net gain of 3,000. But more importantly, another 6,300 people joined the workforce, driving up the participation rate. Brian Lee Crowley, president of the Atlantic Institute of Market Studies says the fact that more people have entered the workforce is a positive sign for the province.
It sounds implausible but Canadian aquaculturists have actually been arrested by government officials for "illegal fishing" while harvesting fish that exist chiefly because of the culturing efforts of their owners. The police have refused to lay theft charges against people who rustle aquaculturists' fish stocks because their property rights are so muddy, it is not at all clear that they own what has been stolen.
As a result of a combination of rising wealth, rising population and rising technological sophistication, the very relationship that mankind enjoys with the seas is being fundamentally altered. Nowhere is this transformation clearer than in aquaculture, which rose from nothing to a US$30-billion industry worldwide last year. The prestigious Economist magazine recently featured an aquaculture cover story called the Blue Revolution, intentionally suggesting a parallel with the Green Revolution, which hugely increased world agricultural production and efficiency at the end of the last century. Aquaculture is set to become a vigorous and lucrative industry for Canada’s coasts. Yet “fencing” this last frontier is hampered by a property rights regime intended for the wild fishery, rather than agriculture, which aquaculture more closely resembles.
Dans sa chronique régulière dans La Presse, le plus grand quotidien de langue française de l’Amérique du Nord, le président de AIMS, Brian Lee Crowley observe que, dans les faits, l'aquaculture canadienne est contrôlée par une bureaucratie inepte et lourde, ne voyant que le développement économique à court terme et disposant d'un pouvoir discrétionnaire qui plie volontiers devant la force politique d'intérêts établis. Si la discrétion administrative peut s'exercer de manière si ample en matière d'aquaculture, c'est en partie parce qu'il n'existe pas de statuts fédéraux ou provinciaux au Canada touchant cette pratique.
AIMS paper injects reason into misguided industrial development strategy
AIMS ECANS Conference -"Plugging in the International Northeast, AIMS releases new Paper by Gordon Weil, “The Atlantica Power Market: A Plan for Joint Action”, Brian Lee Crowley on "One region, two futures”, AIMS delivers strong message to federal Finance Committee and more.
Irish Rock star Bono used the Liberal leadership convention as a platform to convince Canadians of a need for higher levels of foreign aid for Africa. Bono’s desire to improve the lives of the desperately poor in Africa is well-meaning, but the open-handedness he advocates is perilous policy. Tripling Canada’s foreign aid budget will not solve Africa’s troubles, and in many cases, it will sabotage efforts to improve conditions.
Assertions of “inaccuracies” and “errors” do not stand up under scrutiny
Plugging in the International Northeast