I just heard another large multinational firm is closing its NB office and consolidating the good paying IT jobs in another Canadian community. This on the heels of ExxonMobil stealthily closing its Moncton operations - at one point they had something like 1,200 employees in New Brunswick. UPS, SunLife, there is a long list of national or international firms that have set up here - operated for a decade or more and then closed shop.
I'd add that the province, the municipalities, should further invest in the arts. Especially the Province. Big boss, or mid manager wants to be locally entertained. They won't stay if there's no culture. Yet I feel that most of the business community tends to ignore that reality.
Reading David Campbell's comments of businesses leaving New Brunswick is disturbing but no as disturbing as the call received from a provincial official last evening. As some may know, the Canadian Stimulus Group (CSG) was approached in November 2022 by government officials and local businesses to consider investing in the province of New Brunswick. As dialog progressed, it was determined that the ask would be $800 million per year in support of local businesses, infrastructure and housing. This was not the first time CSG was approached by the Province but the second. In January 2019 and January 2023, CSG received letters from Premier Higgs in support of CSG investment but in both times the process was hampered by ONB as they deemed CSG as competition. By making slanderous statements about CSG to government officials and refusing any dialog to educate themselves on the facts and benefits of CSG investment to the province, its businesses and citizens.
Last evening's call from the Premier’s office was clear that investment via CSG to the province would not proceed and that Minister Greg Turner was not interested in the detail or processes of the legitimate proposed investment after having had apparently further dialog with ONB. In the end, ONB and officials have pushed away more than $2.8 billion of investment from CSG and more than 2 dozen international businesses that would have provided thousands of sustainable jobs.
With attempted calls to Premier Higgs, Minister Greg Turner and Minister Jill Green to discuss the matters of concerns reported by builders and local business owners being ignored, is New Brunswick under it's current government truly open for business and wanting the best for its citizens?
I'd add that the province, the municipalities, should further invest in the arts. Especially the Province. Big boss, or mid manager wants to be locally entertained. They won't stay if there's no culture. Yet I feel that most of the business community tends to ignore that reality.
Reading David Campbell's comments of businesses leaving New Brunswick is disturbing but no as disturbing as the call received from a provincial official last evening. As some may know, the Canadian Stimulus Group (CSG) was approached in November 2022 by government officials and local businesses to consider investing in the province of New Brunswick. As dialog progressed, it was determined that the ask would be $800 million per year in support of local businesses, infrastructure and housing. This was not the first time CSG was approached by the Province but the second. In January 2019 and January 2023, CSG received letters from Premier Higgs in support of CSG investment but in both times the process was hampered by ONB as they deemed CSG as competition. By making slanderous statements about CSG to government officials and refusing any dialog to educate themselves on the facts and benefits of CSG investment to the province, its businesses and citizens.
Last evening's call from the Premier’s office was clear that investment via CSG to the province would not proceed and that Minister Greg Turner was not interested in the detail or processes of the legitimate proposed investment after having had apparently further dialog with ONB. In the end, ONB and officials have pushed away more than $2.8 billion of investment from CSG and more than 2 dozen international businesses that would have provided thousands of sustainable jobs.
With attempted calls to Premier Higgs, Minister Greg Turner and Minister Jill Green to discuss the matters of concerns reported by builders and local business owners being ignored, is New Brunswick under it's current government truly open for business and wanting the best for its citizens?