By Patrick Webber (AIMS Research Associate) The revolution of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) will be one of the most profound economic shifts of this century. It is already well underway, and public policy must meet the challenge. Left- and right-wing populists often blame free trade for North American job losses in manufacturing, though automation [...]
BY PATRICK WEBBER (AIMS Research Associate) A shrinking labour force and a rapidly growing population of non-employed seniors in relation to active full-time workers represents an enormous challenge to New Brunswick over the next three decades. The demographic trajectory of New Brunswick has been creeping up over time. For instance, for every 100 working-age people, [...]
By Patrick Webber (AIMS Research Associate) Sometimes governments increase tax rates but actually end up with less tax revenue. New Brunswick is a good example of this paradox. The province’s income tax rates have been erratic over the last decade, particularly for the top tier of earners. The top rate of provincial income tax [...]
By PATRICK WEBBER (AIMS Research Associate) New Brunswick’s government recently announced that NB Liquor will oversee the sale of recreational marijuana in the province when legalization comes into effect next year. At the press conference where this announcement was made, NB Liquor CEO Brian Harriman said that the Crown Corporation’s goals were break even profit-wise [...]
by PATRICK WEBBER (AIMS Research Associate) A recent article in The Telegraph-Journal reported that since April 2015 the New Brunswick government has provided $21 million to nine different call centres, in the form of loans, forgivable loans, and payroll rebates. These funds resulted in the creation of 2,100 jobs, or about $10,000 per job. Cheryl [...]
By PATRICK WEBBER (AIMS Research Associate) Huddle, 24 July 2017 Ronald Reagan once said: “Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” Such is the economic development philosophy of New Brunswick [...]
By PATRICK WEBBER (AIMS Research Associate) Huddle, 13 June 2017 Troy Media, 14 June 2017 The Guardian, 19 June 2017 New Brunswick's government has raised the minimum wage by 35 cents to $11.00 per hour, the 12th increase since 2007. This policy moves the wage floor to the highest level in three decades. People tend to [...]
By PATRICK WEBBER (Research Associate) Sheldon MacLeod Show, News 95.7 25 April 2017 Telegraph-Journal, 26 April 2017 Troy Media, 26 April 2017 CBC News New Brunswick, 27 April 2017 Last year, New Brunswick's government launched the Tuition Access Bursary (TAB), which provides funding for up to the full cost of tuition at public universities and community [...]
By PATRICK WEBBER (AIMS Research Associate) Troy Media, April 6, 2017 Telegraph Journal, April 10, 2017 New Brunswick is often thought of as a rural place, aided by the absence of a single large urban centre. This sets New Brunswick apart from the other three Atlantic provinces, all with one dominant city. Figures from the 2016 [...]
By PATRICK WEBBER (AIMS Research Associate) • Troy Media, 03 March 2017 • Telegraph-Journal, 03 March 2017 • LocalXpress, 06 March 2017 • Battlefords News-Optimist, 08 March 2017 The New Brunswick Medical Society (NBMS) has released the results of a survey about various health-related public policies. Chief among its recommendations is a “soda tax” on sugary drinks. At first [...]