Frame your coming year by putting a label on it

Frame your coming year by putting a label on itWriting down your goals is the first step to success Ange sat across from me, her face stressed with the worries of the day and her business. “If you could name last year, what would you name it?” I asked. Without hesitation, Ange blurted out: “The year of the s--t show.” She told me about…

Regulated career colleges key to solving labour shortages

Regulated career colleges key to solving labour shortagesAn all-hands-on-deck approach needed if Western Canada is to maintain its advantage as a destination for global talent After years of high unemployment and economic uncertainty, driven by low commodity prices and the pandemic, economies across Western Canada are once again picking up steam – and facing severe labour shortages. Governments have committed to finding…

Is Manitoba’s liquor monopoly on its last dregs?

Is Manitoba’s liquor monopoly on its last dregs?Manitobans can only hope First Alberta, then Saskatchewan, but will Manitoba follow? Next year will be the final year for the Saskatchewan government to retail alcohol – nearly 100 years after it began. This history demonstrates how long government keeps its hands on something once it starts, but also how an incremental approach can allow…

Ottawa tone deaf to issues facing farmers

Ottawa tone deaf to issues facing farmersThis is what happens when a government is driven by urban politics Ottawa recently announced that tariff revenues received from Canadian farmers who bought Russian/Belarusian fertilizers this year are being sent to Ukraine to rebuild infrastructure. Canada was the only G7 country to put tariffs on Russian and/or Belarusian fertilizer after Russia invaded Ukraine back…

One simple way to increase sales you might be missing

One simple way to increase sales you might be missingReaching out to past customers is effective and gets results Jason had been struggling for months trying to drum up new business for his company. The marketing firm he hired to drive leads was expensive, and he wasn’t getting near enough increase in sales to offset costs that had been growing significantly. Despite being in…

Canadian lithium exploration could help supply the batteries of the future

Canadian lithium exploration could help supply the batteries of the future“Western Canada is going to be one of the biggest jurisdictions for lithium on the planet” Canada’s post-pandemic economy is like a cross-country horse race. Out front, galloping through the canyons of inflation, geopolitical instability, and supply chain problems are oil and gas, retail, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism, to name a few industries. Gaining…

Port of Churchill finally opening for business?

Port of Churchill finally opening for business?The opportunity costs of not exporting natural gas and oil remain enormous Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson finally voiced support for more energy exports out of Hudson Bay. That is excellent news because the potential is real and the reasons to refuse are illusory. “We are looking at liquefied natural gas, primarily,” Stefanson told reporters recently.…

Manitoba needs to pick up the pace on tax relief

The province should look to its neighbours and other jurisdictions that are providing meaningful relief

Manitoba needs to pick up the pace on tax reliefIn the race to help people struggling with inflation, other jurisdictions are off to a running start. Meanwhile, the government of Manitoba is still stuck at the starting line, trying to tie up its running shoes. The government’s summer announcement of an affordability package will see cheques go to families with children and seniors. Those…

Brian Pallister’s Manitoba legacy. Smaller government

He scaled back the public service. Will his successor be able to maintain that momentum?

Brian Pallister’s Manitoba legacy. Smaller governmentFormer Manitoba premier Brian Pallister might best be remembered as the Grinch who stole the 2020 Christmas, forbidding citizens from in-person shopping and gathering for the holiday. However, he has another legacy, more like the Canadian Tire Christmas commercials that said, “Give like Santa, save like Scrooge.” Pallister was both Santa and Scrooge by restraining…

$1.25-million project tackles clubroot resistance in canola

Researchers and agriculture company battle the crop-damaging disease and train new scientists

$1.25-million project tackles clubroot resistance in canolaA $1.25-million research project is tackling clubroot resistance in canola to help battle new strains of the crop-damaging pathogen. Funded by agriculture company BASF, University of Alberta plant scientists Stephen Strelkov and Sheau-Fang Hwang will work to identify new sources of pathogen resistance that can be bred into canola seeds. New strains of clubroot, a soil-borne disease that attacks the…