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The Atlantic Provinces “special snowflake” syndrome.

The term “special snowflake” is generally used as a term of derision in the service industry. It comes from the term parents may use for their singularly wonderful child being “special”, like a “snowflake”.

After being popularized in the 1999 movie Fight Club, the term has transmuted into a sneering reference to those who feel they are or-so-very unique, but generally fall into columns of…

Cutting Red Tape: An old problem finding new solutions

I was having coffee with an old political warhorse recently and we were talking about red tape. He told me a story about how after John Buchanan won the 1981 election, his government promised to cut red tape. The classic line from Digby Liberal Joe Casey in the legislature was, “He sure is cutting, but lengthwise.”

This is to say, there’s nothing really new about politicians promising to cut red…

There have been many reports generated to reinforce that which we already know. We know this because we’ve written many of them.

From CFIB’s work on inter-provincial trade barriers to multiple pre-budget submissions, red tape report cards, and other position statements, our members…

Council candidates on a Living Wage ordinance…leaving more questions than answers.

Halifax journalist/blogger Tim Bousquet has re-opened up a particularly interesting debate during this municipal election by asking candidates for council their opinion on a living wage ordinance.

On his Halifax Examiner site, Tim is dedicating a page to a couple of questions, one of which is, “Will you support a living wage ordinance?”* Tim provides some background where he argues his position…

Why are Halifax building inspectors trying to kill small business?

  Today, Sailor Bup’s posted a missive about what has become an all too familiar story of the heavy-handed, anti-small business attitude of the building inspection department in the City of Halifax…you’ll find it below and if you have any interest in the growth of small business in Halifax, I encourage you to read it.

This comes on the heels of a meeting CFIB had this week with the folks at The…

Is Halifax “the new Seattle”? We have some work to do…

It’s been 25 years since someone at Melody Maker declared Halifax “the new Seattle.” The reference was to the early 90’s burgeoning alternative music scene and what seemed to be a genuine surge in hip music, culture and attitude in the city.

Halifax is still a pretty cool place to live, all things considered, but it isn’t Seattle. However, there are signs we may be taking steps toward acting a…

Of Trade and Liquor and Lawyers.

Gerard Comeau after a judge dismissed a charge of bringing too much alcohol into New Brunswick because it violated free trade provisions in the Constitution. (CBC NB)

A few years ago, Gerard Comeau, a retired steelworker from Tracadie, New Brunswick, went on a 185 kilometre booze run to Pointe-à-la-Croix, Quebec. Like countless other folks in New Brunswick, Gerard opted to make the two-hour drive…

The $15 Minimum Wage. Good politics, bad policy

The latest salvo in the Nova Scotia NDP’s battle back from electoral oblivion has been fired. Newly minted leader Gary Burrill is launching the Nova Scotia franchise of the “fight for 15” minimum wage war. Good politics perhaps but this is bad economic policy. This massive minimum wage hike is modelled on the Alberta government’s last election platform and has become somewhat of a Cause Célèbre

Construction regulations shouldn’t leave small firms in the dust

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is welcoming an important milestone in our long-term effort to have Halifax adopt a construction mitigation policy.

CFIB launched this effort two years ago, acting on concerns small businesses were being devastated by extended construction activity. On Monday, HRM unveiled their work at a public consultation.

Protracted construction projects…

Steps were taken earlier this year by Atlantic Canadian political leaders to dismantle a virtual wall of barrier erected between provinces over more than a century

by Jordi Morgan and Erin McGrath-Gaudet

In perhaps one of the most memorable moments of his presidency, in 1987 Ronald Reagan stood before the Brandenburg Gates in Berlin and implored Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “Tear…

Yes, there’s a new Sheriff in Alberta, Buford T. Notley

Q: “What’s the difference between Canada’s inter-provincial liquor regulations and Smokey and the Bandit?

A: One is a farce based on the antics of local authorities chasing around entrepreneurs to enforce prohibition era liquor regulations…and the other is a Burt Reynolds movie. (Ba-dum)

The sad reality though is trade regulations governing alcoholic beverages have evolved into a rather unfunny…

Of Torches, Pitchforks and the Small Business Business Tax Rate

<a href="http://” target=”_blank”>As the story goes, CFIB founder John Bulloch was sitting in his tub reading a federal government white paper on tax reform in 1969. When he saw the government planned to “realign” the economy by raising taxes on small businesses in Canada, he took action. He exposed the scheme in the Toronto Telegram and the ensuing protest was the closest thing Canada had seen…

Halifax fiddles, small business burns

The Darkside

Here is an another example of how a regulation does not fit any meaningful or useful policy objective.

I would suggest the city official, council, the mayor and any other interested person sit down and have a good look at the Premiers’ Charter of Governing Principles for Regulation.

This Darkside case exemplifies the worst kind on ridiculous, invasive regulatory interference and…

Maritimes make major move on red-tape reduction

Quietly, earlier this month, the Nova Scotia government took a significant step forward to change the way business is done in Atlantic Canada.

The premier, in his role as minister responsible for regulatory affairs and service effectiveness, tabled legislation that could reasonably be described as 50 years in the making. You’d think it might have made a bigger splash.

However, red tape reduction…

History being made in Charlottetown…again.

There was a time when many in Nova Scotia opposed joining Canada. In fact, Nova Scotia’s greatest and best-loved politician, Joe Howe, led the fight against Confederation. So, in the lead-up to the Charlottetown meeting of 1867, several conferences were convened to sell the idea. In September 1864, at one these prefatory confabulations in Halifax, Father of Confederation George Brown said in…

Nova Scotia business needs clarity from Minister on any new recycling fees

25 years ago, Swedish academic and environmental economist Thomas Lindhqvist coined the term “Extended Producer Responsibility” (EPR). The concept is fairly simple; shift the responsibility and cost for disposal and recycling of products from the general tax base onto producers. Initially, the concept was applied to automobiles, large appliances and electronics. In the simplest of terms, the…

An Open Letter to Mayor and Council on the Donair Debate

October 27, 2015

Mr. Mike Savage Mayor, Halifax Regional Municipality Office of the Mayor 1841 Argyle Street P.O. Box 1749 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3A5

Dear Mayor Savage,

As Vice-President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) which represents 1,600 small- and medium-sized employers (SMEs) in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), I would like to offer my input on an…