New Cape Breton Starts at Home
Dr. Michael MacDonald, AIMS Senior Fellow, was invited to give this paper at the recent International Business Summit held in Cape Breton. Since the closing of the coal mines and steel industry, business and government have been trying to develop an economic and social transition from the defunct industrial base to a new economy focused on small innovative business and the knowledge economy. The Summit signalled a turning point in business growth in Cape Breton as it grew out of a partnership between the Cape Breton Boards of Trade, the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation and organized labour. It was a major event bringing together about 65 North American business leaders to investigate doing business in the new economy of Cape Breton. Dr. MacDonald leads two AIMS initiatives that are an ideal fit with the new economy in Cape Breton, the Canada Cities and the Atlantica projects.