PROSPERITY: #THINK#THINK WHAT IS IT? What are we doing well? What’s What kind of holding us future back? do we want? In September 2017, Atlantic Business Magazine hosted its first BIGannual thought leadership workshop series. We invited a broad demographic—youth, seniors, new immigrants, entrepreneurs, urban, rural, resource sector, executives, unions, the indigenous community, and more—to join us in Charlottetown, P.E.I., Monc-Monc- ton, N.B., Halifax, N.S, and St. John’s, N.L. for a frank discussion about the regional economy. Originally billed as Big Think, this meeting of the minds transformed into something larger than we could have imagined. When people dared to allow themselves to How can we be #ThinkBIG about the region and its potential, well… let’s just say that’s when the discussion really took off in surprising (often game inspiring) directions. changers? Do we even have a 16 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 vision? PROSPERITY: #THINK WHAT IS IT? What are we doing well? What’s What kind of holding us future back? do we want? In September 2017, Atlantic Business Magazine hosted its first BIGannual thought leadership workshop series. We invited a broad demographic—youth, seniors, new immigrants, entrepreneurs, urban, rural, resource sector, executives, unions, the indigenous community, and more—to join us in Charlottetown, P.E.I., Monc- ton, N.B., Halifax, N.S, and St. John’s, N.L. for a frank discussion about the regional economy. Originally billed as Big Think, this meeting of the minds transformed into something larger than we could have imagined. When people dared to allow themselves to How can we be #ThinkBIG about the region and its potential, well… let’s just say that’s when the discussion really took off in surprising (often game inspiring) directions. changers? Do we even have a 16 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 vision? ATLANTICBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM | 17 [NEW BRUNSWICK] WHAT’S WORKING? Immigration attraction We asked our workshop attendees to tell us about policies/programs/ “Hungry” entrepreneurial community characteristics that they believe Strong “buy local” culture promote growth and prosperity. Here are the main ones Bilingualism N.B. Small Business Investors Credit [NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR] ONB Engaged communities with a strong Tele-infrastructure thank you voice. When they work together, exciting FOR SUPPORTING ATLANTIC BUSINESS MAGAZINE’S things happen (e.g. increased awareness Good federal-provincial relationship and support for mental health) Cybersecurity/smart grid The Harris Centre! Their research is essential for fact-based decision making ACOA #BigThink Collaborative business community A cultural “scrappiness” that helps them survive hard times [WHERE THEY OVERLAP] Lifestyle Tourism Atlantic Growth Strategy Private sector support of non-profit sector Strong post-secondary system that attracts immigrants and is producing a well-trained labour force [NOVA SCOTIA] Strong start-up ecosystem (CEED, [PRIINCE EDWARD ISLAND] Volta Labs, Propel ICT, Innovacorp) Technology is helping people Immigration overcome geographical challenges attraction Focused sectoral growth Vibrant arts community (e.g. ocean cluster, technology) Youth support programs Willingness to discuss issues, work collaboratively Chamber of Commerce Passion to grow Location We couldn’t have done it without you! 18 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 #ThinkBIG of doing business in 133 different cities around the world putting Fredericton, [premier priorities] Moncton, and Saint John at the very top. Gallant sees the low-cost accolade as fertile ground for the province’s newest, never-before-seen economic driver, cannabis. With legalization and open THE LONG AND sale set to start in 2018, the premier plans to use this advantage to bring new capital investments to the province. WINDING ROAD “We see the production part of cannabis New Brunswick premier says there as an opportunity for manufacturing are many paths to prosperity and job creation, and we want to make sure we get the economic spinoffs. It is BY CHET WESLEY going to be produced somewhere, and communities need to have an open atti- tude.” Since his government has already For Premier Brian Gallant, sustaining New Brunswick’s GDP and employ- decided to reap the full benefit of its sale ment growth through 2018 requires many initiatives—most notably export infrastruc- by restricting it to government-owned ture and diversification, immigration and workforce development, the cybersecurity stores, Gallant plans to focus New industry, and cannabis production. That’s if the province’s traditional industries aren’t Brunswick farmers, entrepreneurs and hit too hard by its neighbour to the South. businesses towards the supply side of “The largest challenge we face is the protectionist attitude in the United States,” the equation, if they can overcome one says Gallant. “Ninety per cent of our exports go to the U.S., which is the highest of challenge. any province in the country. It’s good to have a strong relationship, but it is a vulner- “Because it will be highly regu- ability.” Gallant says he’ll respond to that challenge throughout 2018 by helping to lated, the challenge is for people to get increase exports to Europe and Asia. the appropriate licenses,” Gallant says. “We are the hub between North America and the E.U., and have lots of products “We have many businesses looking to the Asian market wants,” he says. “We are investing significant amounts in strategic invest in N.B., and it’s because we have logistical projects like roads and bridges, Route 11, the Port of Saint John, and Bathurst a cost competitive business environment airport to help products get around the world.” For Gallant, that means more non-U.S. and strong workforce. We are pleased exports of the province’s most plentiful products, namely softwood lumber, blueber- with the federal government’s plan to ries, maple syrup, French fries, and once online, enormous amounts of tungsten and make sure production is very tightly molybdenum from Northcliff Resources and Todd Corporation’s Sisson Mine. controlled.” Gallant points out that Part of that success will depend on increased immigration and skilled workers Health Canada-approved companies in the province. “Immigration is crucial for the future of the economy in Atlantic are already making significant invest- Canada, and it’s not just to grow the population,” says Gallant. “We’re very pleased to ments in the province (including Monc- work with the other Atlantic provinces on the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program that ton-based organic marijuana producer focusses on finding a certain skill set.” Organigram, Ontario-based Canopy At the same time, in 2018 his government plans to invest heavily in education to Growth, and British Columbia-based prepare New Brunswick youth for the next generation of its economy, especially in Zenabis) and will supply government computer science. “We will invest more in education to increase literacy, and youth stores with up to $90 million worth of learning (computer) coding in our schools,” Gallant says. “We need them to be cannabis products per year. As part of comfortable in both using technology and creating it.” Ultimately, the premier wants the deal, Zenabis plans to create 450 to see New Brunswick become the epicentre of cybersecurity in North America. new jobs at a future 393,000 square foot “Cybersecurity …is a huge challenge for business, government, and Canadians,” plant in Atholville, N.B. says Gallant, who expects to see an increase in businesses and individuals obtaining Cannabis cultivation won’t be for big cybersecurity credentials this year through the Cyber Essentials Certification program. corporations alone. When asked, the Accredited by QG Business Solutions, who does the same for the U.K. government, premier said any business that’s able to the company is one of the authors of the ISO 27001 global standard for cybersecurity. obtain the necessary licenses would be “What’s fantastic about cybersecurity (in New Brunswick) is that it’s driven by the eligible for the same provincial business private sector and universities,” says Gallant. “It’s an emerging industry with hundreds development programs as any other type of millions of dollars of great opportunities. I want us to be able to increase our compet- of enterprise, where they qualify. itiveness. A lot of indicators have been going in the right direction,” referring to KPMG’s For Premier Gallant, other touch- 2016 Guide To International Business Location Costs. The study compares the costs points for economic growth in 2018 Those devilish details How much money will What, exactly, do you hope We here at Atlantic Business Magazine your government spend on to accomplish? For example, were impressed by Premier Gallant’s big each of these initiatives? are you hoping to increase picture thinking—and we’d like to learn more. Here’s some of the follow-up Asia exports by 20%? Attract questions we wish we’d had time to ask Where will that money 5,000 new immigrants in the before we went to press: come from? next two years? 20 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 include continuing investment in renew- able energy, and tidal power, in partic- ular, selling some of NB Power and Siemens smart grid technology develop- ments abroad, and what he calls the most significant investment in tourism infra- structure in New Brunswick history. For tourism alone, Gallant expects to see the industry’s value grow to $100 million per year by 2024. All things considered, when it comes to economic growth, a large part of Premier Gallant’s plan involves getting as far ahead of the curve as he can on new, prospective industries and putting New Brunswick on the map and helping companies and people finding their way there, and back again. FEEDBACK * [email protected] a @AtlanticBus; @Chet_Wesley; #nbpoli When do you expect to see results? What happens if you don’t see the expected results by your target dates? 20 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 ATLANTICBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM | 21 #ThinkBIG The most extensive service [playing to our strengths] in Newfoundland GOING GLOBAL STARTS LOCAL and Labrador THE EUROPEAN UNION concept are a resource to be harnessed of subsidiarity emphasizes that for economic success.