Gregg joins Don and David to share his entrepreneurial journey, discussing the importance of R&D, access to capital, and the realities of building companies in Nova Scotia. He also makes a compelling case for why Atlantic Canada should invest more in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) to boost food self-sufficiency and improve food quality.

The company has purchased 770 acres of land with tidal access and has already spent tens of millions of dollars developing the case for the project, and has received approval for its initial environmental review. The project will have its own renewable wind and solar energy that will be able to generate 1.1.GWs of power. The project is estimated to cost between $4 and $6 billion and will contribute $1 billion to provincial GDP annually when at full production. The European market is driving demand for sustainable aviation fuels, and it has legislation in place to ensure that 70% of aviation fuel will be from sustainable sources by 2050. This would be the first such plant in North America and one of the first in the world. The final decision is expected in 2028, with the plant completed by 2031.

You’ll also hear candid insights on:

• Unlocking offshore and onshore natural gas potential
• Strategic mining opportunities fueling economic growth
• Regulatory reforms to accelerate progress
• Breaking down interprovincial trade barriers
• Managing fiscal challenges amid rising deficits

If you care about Canada’s energy future, economic development, and bold leadership, this is the conversation you don’t want to miss. Tune in now for one of our most impactful episodes of the year!

Beyond business, David shares his experience serving on major boards—from Air Canada to Sun Life—and his impact on organizations like the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council and the Conference Board of Canada. Gain practical advice for emerging leaders, learn what it takes to build a lasting legacy, and find out which Premier of New Brunswick tops his list.

If you’re passionate about business growth, leadership strategies, and Canadian success stories, this episode is a must-listen.

Learn how the federal government’s plan to boost defence spending to 5% of GDP could unlock massive growth in shipbuilding, MRO, cybersecurity, and more.

We also dive into the potential of offshore and onshore natural gas, the strategic importance of unlocking Nova Scotia’s mining resources, and the regulatory reforms needed to accelerate progress. Premier Houston discusses his efforts to reduce interprovincial trade barriers and his government's approach to fiscal management amid growing deficits.

This conversation aligns with the themes of bold leadership and national energy strategy outlined in our book Toward Prosperity. If you're interested in Canada's energy future, economic development, and policy innovation, this episode is a must-listen.

Featuring an all-star panel of industry leaders—Cathy Bennett (Sandpiper Ventures), Lauren Ledwell (PEI BioAlliance), Greg Wanger (Oberland Agriscience), and Michelle Robichaud (Atlantica Energy Centre)—the discussion dives into key themes from the book Towards Prosperity: The Transformation of Atlantic Canada's Economy, co-authored by Don Mills and David Campbell.

Topics include:

• Energy development and innovation
• Economic clusters and regional collaboration
• Capital attraction and investment strategy
• Building a prosperous future for Atlantic Canada

Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, policymaker, or economic development professional, this episode offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of Atlantic Canada's economy.

🔊 Listen now to gain insights into:

• The future of Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, whose license expires in 2032, and the critical decision to refurbish or replace the plant that supplies 700 MW to the provincial grid.
• The urgent repair needs of the Mactaquac Dam, which provides 20% of New Brunswick’s renewable energy and faces a $7.6–$9 billion overhaul due to premature cement issues.
• Plans to transition the Belledune coal-fired plant to biomass by 2030, with a projected cost of $100 million.
• The development of a new natural gas generation facility by the private sector to support renewable energy reliability.
• NB Power’s strategy to balance affordability, sustainability, and reliability for ratepayers amid these major shifts.

🎙️ Clark offers a candid and comprehensive overview of NB Power’s roadmap, the challenges ahead, and the leadership required to navigate a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

 Parking meters have become increasingly sophisticated, and MacKay Meters has been among the most innovative companies in this space. The company was the first to introduce the use of credit card payment and has the best coin validation system in the industry. The modular design of their smart meters makes it easier to keep the meters current. The company has developed software support to manage and maintain their meters, including the management of time-of-day parking rates around special events. Indeed, there are some years where revenue from their hosted subscription services exceeds their hardware sales. MacKay just completed the world's largest parking project ever undertaken when it installed 13,000 of its smart meters and 3,000 of its pay stations in San Francisco. Since its inception, the company has installed over a million meters.

Our podcast with third generation CEO James MacKay provided an excellent overview of the secret to the company's success over such a long period of time and another reminder of the opportunities that exist for manufacturers in Atlantic Canada.

Premier Houston's recent "open for business" announcement regarding the development of our natural resources will require a closer look at current timelines for permitting and transparency associated with the permitting process, as well as the need for more internal expertise with the Department of Environment & Climate Change to conduct fair assessments of mining projects. It is noteworthy that Strelein was quick to point out that the regulatory legislation was not the problem, just the implementation of that legislation.

This is an excellent primer about mining for those interested in learning more about this sector.

The new convention centre is three times larger than the previous facility with 120,000 sq ft of available space. It can accommodate conferences for 3,000 people and multiple events at a time.  Before the new convention centre, between 4-5 national and international conferences were attracted to the city. In the coming year, 46 such events are scheduled. This underscores the importance of investment in public infrastructure like convention centres to stimulate economic activity and be a catalyst for development in the downtown core, as has happened in Halifax.

The secret of the Bertossi Group's longevity and success is attention to detail and consistency in service delivery, dining experience and food quality. Uluer recently opened two new restaurants on the Halifax waterfront, Water Pool and Matadoras, and now employs over 750 people with an expectation of growing that number to 1,000 by the end of 2025. It is a true entrepreneurial story.

Although JD Irving may not be a household name that is familiar to many, it is the largest vertically integrated conglomerate in Atlantic Canada and one of the biggest in Canada with more than 20,000 employees. It is run by brothers Jim and Robert Irving as CO-CEOs. Robert has responsibility, among others, for Midland Trucking, Midland Courier, Irving Tissue and Cavendish Farms among from his head office in Dieppe and employs more than 2,000 people in the Moncton area alone, including 700 head office jobs. In a rare and exclusive interview with the Insights Podcast, he talks about the companies under his direction, the continued growth of the companies and some major recent capital investments and even succession. It is a surprisingly candid conversation with one of the region's most important yet reticent business leaders, who shares a lot of facts not previously known publicly.

Their third generation CEO, Stephen Emmerson was our guest on this episode of the Insights Podcast and talks about the challenges of competing for business across North America and why it is possible to do so from Amherst, Nova Scotia, even in a capital intensive manufacturing business. It is an impressive business success story.

Corey and Brett Miller purchased Parts for Trucks in 2017. The company specializes in serving the heavy duty and commercial truck market.  At the time, they owned the well-known Miller Tire. Working with Seafort Capital, they did essentially a reverse takeover of Fleet Brake in 2022, a bigger, western Canadian based competitor that nearly doubled the size of the company. That acquisition made Parts for Trucks a coast to coast national company. The company is headquartered in Dartmouth and is now the largest in its sector in Canada.  In this episode of the Insights Podcast, we talk with Corey Miller, the company's CEO about the company's overall growth strategy, its recent expansion and some of the challenges of integrating two companies together with somewhat different cultures and business practices. 

In this episode of the Insights Podcast, we talked with the company's CEO, Paul Jewer,about the company's success and how it pivoted from being a harvester of fish to exclusively a processor of fish following the cod moratorium in the 1990s. The company sources 20 species of fish from around the world for its three processing plants, the largest of which is in Lunenburg with nearly 300 employees. It is yet another story of a successful Atlantic Canadian company competing internationally and generating export revenues for our region.

Recently, David and Don were the closing keynote speakers at ACG's Third Annual Atlantic Conference in Halifax which attracted 200 potential investors in Atlantic Canada. ACG (Association for Corporate Growth) is the largest M&A organization in North American with more than 15,000 members. Christine Pound, a senior partner with Stewart McKelvey and the Co-Chair of the Conference was the host of a live recorded Insights Podcast where David & Don, drawing on the insights gained from more than 180 podcasts, shared their opinions about the investment environment and opportunities within the region, as well as their optimism about the future of Atlantic Canada.

Our guest on this episode of the Insights Podcast is Nik Nanos. Nik is one of the best-known pollsters in Canada, appearing regularly on CTV and Bloomberg News to talk about his latest research about the attitudes and opinions of Canadians based on his weekly tracking polls (@nanos.ca). His research is also used regularly by the Globe & Mail. He has also had a long-time involvement as a volunteer leader in the public opinion and market research industry, most recently as Chair of the Canadian Research and Intelligence Council (CRIC). In a wide-ranging conversation, Nik talks about the founding of his company in 1987 right out of university, the challenges facing the research industry, the current mood of Canadians on a variety of issues and the most likely outcome of the coming Federal election. Those interested in public opinion and who follow politics will enjoy this conversation.

Fortis was formed as a holding company in 1987. From its humble beginnings as St. John's Electric Light in 1885, Fortis has grown into an energy giant with nearly 10,000 employees, of which nearly 700 are with Newfoundland Power and over 200 in PEI with Maritime Electric. There are another 50 head office jobs in St. John's supporting their decentralized subsidiaries elsewhere. Hutcheons just announced a new $24 billion, five-year capital program for the company. 

He talks about the need to invest in infrastructure to address climate change and the company's growth goals going forward. This is a great Atlantic Canadian success story that relatively few in the region will be aware of both the size and scope of operations of Fortis.

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This week's Insights Podcast features a revealing interview with oil & gas veteran, Phil Knoll who has held senior roles with major companies like AltaGas and Duke Energy as well as Maritime & Northeast Pipelines and Corridor Resources (now Headwater Exploration) in the region. Knoll was CEO of Corridor Resources when the Gallant Government in New Brunswick imposed a moratorium on shale gas exploration. Headwater Exploration is the only company still producing natural gas in Atlantic Canada from its field near Sussex. He talks about shale gas exploration and its safety records over decades in terms of environmental impact. He also provides an estimate of the size of gas reserves in New Brunswick which would be sufficient to supply the current needs in the region for the next century. Currently Atlantic Canada imports hundreds of millions of imported natural resources, money that could benefit the region if the gas from the region was developed. Knoll also points out that natural gas will be needed for the foreseeable future in the transition to green energy in order to ensure  sufficient baseload to meet peak demand, especially during the heating season. This is a conversation that everyone should listen to in order to better understand the transition to a green economy.

On this episode of the Insight Podcast, we feature a conversation with Peter Gregg, the CEO of Nova Scotia Power, who is faced with the challenge of ensuring 80% of electricity is produced by green energy resources by 2030. That is indeed a challenge given only 43% of electricity is currently produced by green energy (mostly wind). Nova Scotia is also faced with being the highest user of coal generated electricity and has a mandate to stop using coal by 2030. As Gregg mentions, some of the current coal generating plants will be closed and some will be repurposed to use natural gas to meet peak electricity demands. The transition will be expensive and the impact on affordability for users is still to be determined. For example, there is a need for high-capacity battery storage to support wind power. Gregg also talks about the need to increase generation capacity by 60% by 2060 to serve a growing population and energy demand and the challenges of climate change which has seen a 54% increase in the frequency of winds above 80 kms/hour in the last five years. He also discusses a number of other renewable energy sources, including nuclear power. 

There are many ways to describe David Hawkins. He is a pioneer in marketing & communications, he is a serial entrepreneur, he is a community builder and a successful businessperson. He is also a legend in Atlantic Canada, although that is a label he is uncomfortable being called. How else do you describe someone who helped develop an industry sector in our region by creating Hawk Communications as one of the early and  most successful marketing and advertising agencies that continues to this day. In this wide ranging two part Insights Podcast series, we talk with David about his career, some of his most memorable campaigns and clients, and the factors that led to his success, as well as the current state of marketing and advertising in the era of social media and the dominance of Google and Beta in the field of advertising. It is a fascinating conversation with one of the region's most fascinating personalities.

On this episode of the Insights Podcast our guest is Dan Kelly, the President & CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), an advocacy organization with a hundred thousand small and medium sized business members. SMEs represent about half the GDP in Canada and more than sixty percent of total employment in the country. There are 1.2 million SMEs in Canada, not including sole ownership businesses. In a wide ranging conversation, we discuss the regulatory burden in Canada with a focus on the region and CFIB's efforts to reduce red tape. Kelly credits the work of the Nova Scotia government with leading the way in Atlantic Canada in this regard. He also discusses the challenges associated with repayment of CEBA loans for small businesses that have led to an increase in bankruptcies across the country in the last year or so. In addition, we talk about the generational transition of business ownership underway, with more than 75% of business owners expecting to exit their businesses within the next ten years and their research which indicates few business owners are properly prepared for that transition.

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This episode of the Insights Podcast features a wide ranging conversation with Kim Brooks, the first female President & Vice-Chancellor in the long history of Dalhousie University. Dr. Brooks' appointment was very well received by the Dalhousie community as one the rare Presidents who was chosen from within. She has been at Dalhousie since 2010 and held senior management roles including Dean Law (her speciality is tax law) and Dean of the Faculty of Management. Her vision is to have the university serve the greater good of Nova Scotia and to further engagement with the community as a civic university. We talk about the university's important role as an economic enabler, as an employer (more than 6,500 employees with a payroll over $400 million), as a talent and immigration attraction institution, as an incubator of start-up companies and as a major research player in Atlantic Canada. Her unbridled enthusiasm for the university and its future is apparent and infectious. This is probably one of our best podcasts to date in terms of content.

Roger King started his business while attending Saint Mary's University as a way to supplement his income as a student and has turned his supplement business into a leading national brand. King recently opened his 100th Supplement King retail outlet in British Columbia and has plans to open one hundred more in the next three or four years. His strategy is to license his brand to those interested in owning multiple locations. In the next year alone, he will open an additional 26 outlets. The company's outlets generate more than $100 million in revenues and employ about 1,000 people nationally. The company's head office is in Dartmouth, where a head office staff of twenty manage the marketing and product distribution for the chain.  All products carry a natural product number to ensure their products are safe and effective. Supplement King and Popeye's Supplements are the two largest companies in this market segment, each currently with about the same number of outlets. It is clear that Roger King's ambition is to become the number one brand in Canada, before turning his attention southward to the US market. It all began in Nova Scotia, demonstrating again that this region can compete with anyone, anywhere.

Upcoming podcasts include Dan Kelly, CEO of CFIB and Kim Brooks, CEO of Dalhousie.  To stay up to date, subscribe to our newsletter here.

This episode of the Insights Podcast takes a close look at the amazing opportunity Canada has to grow its blue economy and the role of Canada's Ocean Supercluster (OSC) in ensuring that we take full advantage of that opportunity. The ocean sector in Canada is worth nearly $40 billion in GDP and employs more than 300,000 Canadians. The blue economy is disproportionately important to Atlantic Canada, and Kendra MacDonald, the CEO of the OSC, provides an excellent overview of Ambition 2035, Canada's effort to increase the value of the blue economy to $220 billion by 2035 and the role that OSC is playing to achieve that goal. We discuss sustainable seafood, green energy, marine transportation and tourism as the key areas of focus for growth. The Ocean Supercluster is working on 90 different projects involving more than 300 companies and has invested $150 million to date in these projects, which has been matched by a similar investment from private sector partners. It is an exciting story, especially for Atlantic Canada.

This episode of the Insights Podcast features a conversation recorded live with Premier Tim Houston at the Halifax Chamber's Economic Forum. Premier Houston is halfway through his mandate. We talk about the accomplishments of his government and his personal disappointments over the first half of his mandate. We review the major healthcare initiatives undertaken to date to deliver on his promise to fix healthcare, including the government's willingness to use the private sector to deliver publicly funded healthcare services. We also discuss his ambitious goal to double the population to 2 million people by 2060 and the stresses caused by the recent increases in the population, as well as the government's strategies to address the housing shortages. Premier Houston acknowledges the high tax environment in Nova Scotia and hinted that some relief may be coming. He also acknowledges the need to mine more critical minerals in the province and lessen the current regulatory burden for mining. We talk about the potential of offshore wind. At the same time, he has a surprising answer regarding whether or not nuclear power could be a potential solution to achieving net zero, something that has been banned in Nova Scotia for decades and whether he would support the mining of uranium. The podcast provides a good assessment of the government's progress to date.

Please subscribe to the Acadia Insights podcast on your favorite platform so that you are alerted to the upcoming podcasts including the CEO of the Ocea Supercluster Kenra MacDonald, Roger King, CEO of Supplement King and Dan Kelly, CEO of CFIB.  Or subscribe to our weekly newsletter at this link.

In this episode of the Insights Podcast we talk with Rob Normandeau, the Managing Director and CEO of Seafort Capital, a regionally based private equity company that is part of a growing eco-system of private equity investment companies in Atlantic Canada. Founders East and Sandpiper Ventures are other companies in this space. Rob provides an excellent overview of Seafort's investment strategy and the attributes that his company looks for in making a capital investment. His company is not just focused regionally, but nationally as well. He also provides the key considerations for business owners trying to decide whether to sell or grow their companies, as well as the basis for evaluating the market value of your business. He also defines the difference between a strategic buyer and a financial buyer and the advantages and disadvantages of a management buyout.  According to Rob, there is growing interest in the investment community for the opportunities that are emerging within Atlantic Canada. That is good news for those seeking capital.

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On this episode of the Insights Podcast, we turn our attention to the national scene and have a candid conversation with Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations. Rae has had a long and distinguished career as a lawyer, politician, law professor and now diplomat. We talk to him about his time as the first NDP Premier of Ontario and as the Interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, as well as one of the founding members of the Forum of Federations. Also about his work as an envoy for Canada and finally about his current role as the Canadian UN ambassador. Rae is a highly cerebral individual, and he provides his thoughtful perspectives on the challenges south of the border, his views about the future of Canada and his advice for Atlantic Canadians. You will enjoy this conversation with this important national figure.

In this episode of the Insights Podcast, we have an inspiring conversation with Terry Paul, the long-term Chief of Membertou First Nation (celebrating his 40th Anniversary as Chief this year). Chief Terry is a residential survivor who was recently named as one of Canada's most admired CEOs. He has helped develop the Membertou Model of economic development to improve his community. Membertou is part of the Mi'kmaq Coalition of seven First Nation communities who purchased 50% of Clearwater Seafoods in 2020 with Premium Brands of BC. Last year Membertou generated $80 million in revenue and has created 600 jobs in a community with 1,850 members (including those living outside the community itself). In the last ten years alone, Membertou has spent $91 million in capital investments in the community. It continues to expand its fishery operations and is the major owner of two wind farms that will be developed to support EverWind's green energy project. The ambition and success of Membertou is clearly a model for other indigenous communities across Atlantic Canada.

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Subscribe to the newsletter if you would like to stay up to date on future podcasts. 

To stay up to date on all future podcasts, please subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

A new report called “Catching the Wind” from the Public Policy Forum outlines how Atlantic Canada can become an energy superpower by harnessing offshore wind. On this episode of the Insights Podcast we talk with Peter Nicholson, the Chair of the Canadian Climate Institute and author of the report about the opportunity to harness the winds for environmental and economic benefit. Peter has had a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors and makes a compelling case that the region has a generational opportunity to be a net exporter of green energy to the rest of the country that will transform the economy of the region and generate the same kind of economic benefits for the region that Alberta has enjoyed form their oil and gas industry. He outlines the challenges associated with realizing this opportunity, including the substantial capital investment required. He also emphasizes that addressing climate change requires bold vision and audacity to seize the potential of offshore wind in particular.

As you close out the year, and celebrate the New Year, we hope you enjoy the listening to some of our other top podcasts of 2023.

Glenn Cooke Discusses How Cooke Inc Has Quietly Become The Largest Privately Owned Seafood Company In The World
Jim Irving Discusses The Importance Of The Forestry Sector For The Future Of New Brunswick
Discussion With Minister Arlene Dunn On The Growing Population And Job Vacancies In NB
Phil Fraser, CEO Of Killam Properties, Tells The Story Of Atlantic Canada’s Largest Landlord
Bernard Lord Discusses How Medavie Is Changing Health Delivery In Canada
A $10-Billion Opportunity To Mine Manganese In New Brunswick
How Jacques Dube Really Feels About Your Tax Bill
The Entrepreneur Fighting To Dismantle P.E.I.'s Development Roadblocks

The closure of Northern Pulp was a significant blow to the forestry sector in Nova Scotia creating a gap in demand for low grade fiber of 1.5 metric Tonnes. Despite this blow, the forestry industry still employs 6,000 workers in the province and generates $1.8 billion of economic activity and remains an important contributor to the economy in Nova Scotia. Our Insights Podcast this week features a wide-ranging conversation with Stephen Moore, the Executive Director of Forest Nova Scotia. One of those topics is the impact of the implementation of the Lahey Report on the industry which has a target of conserving 30 percent of forest lands in the province. As Moore points out, this conservation goal has the potential to increase the risk of forest fires in the province if those lands are not properly managed. In terms of conservation, the industry currently harvests about 2.5 million trees annually of the 600 million trees in the province. The goal of tripling housing means the demand for lumber will also triple in this region in the near future. This presents an unprecedented opportunity for the forestry industry to grow and expand while ensuring the long-term sustainability of this sector.

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This episode of the Insights Podcast features an exclusive and rare interview with Glenn Cooke, the driving force behind New Brunswick based Cooke Inc., which through acquisitions around the world (14 major acquisitions since 2016 worth $2.5 billion) now has annual revenues of $4 billion and nearly 13,000 employees, of which 2,500 are within Atlantic Canada. With operations in 14 countries, Cooke is a fully integrated seafood company utilizing 800 vessels and 30 processing plants, as well as its own transportation, hatcheries and feed plants. And it all started in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick. Cooke uses a scientific based approach to fish farming and invests heavily in research and development efforts to improve production and environmental practices. It is clear that the regulatory environment within the region is holding back the expansion of the aquaculture sector in Atlantic Canada, especially with regard to the site approval process that can take years. The advent of offshore fish farming may help open up the industry in Canada.

This episode of the Insights Podcast features a live, in-person conversation with Sean Fraser, the Federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure & Communities that was held at the "Partners for Progress " Conference sponsored by the Nova Scotia Regional Enterprise Networks in New Glasgow. The Minister presented an excellent overview of the government's housing strategy, including the recently announced $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund, plus plans to address homeless and housing affordability. Fraser presented an articulate and clear understanding of the housing challenges Canada faces, including the need to construct housing differently to meet the needs of a growing population while defending the goal of continuing to grow the population. It is one of our best podcasts to date, especially for those interested in better understanding the housing crisis facing Canada.

This episode of the Insights Podcast features an in depth conversation with Karen Oldfield, the interim CEO of NS Health Authority who acknowledges that the province needs to do a better job informing Nova Scotians about the changes happening in healthcare and their impacts on the public, in particular the need to reset expectations regarding the access to primary care which will not longer be based on a sole practitioner family doctor model.

A new report called "Catching the Wind" from the Public Policy Forum outlines how Atlantic Canada can become an energy superpower by harnessing offshore wind. On this episode of the Insights Podcast we talk with Peter Nicholson, the Chair of the Canadian Climate Institute and author of the report about the opportunity to harness the winds for environmental and economic benefit. Peter has had a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors and makes a compelling case that the region has a generational opportunity to be a net exporter of green energy to the rest of the country that will transform the economy of the region and generate the same kind of economic benefits for the region that Alberta has enjoyed form their oil and gas industry. He outlines the challenges associated with realizing this opportunity, including the substantial capital investment required. He also emphasizes that addressing climate change requires bold vision and audacity to seize the potential of offshore wind in particular.

Subscribe to the newsletter to be notified of future podcasts.

Subscribe to the newsletter to be notified of future podcasts.  Next week’s guest will be Karen Oldfield, Interim CEO of Nova Scotia Health.

Medavie is a company that few in this region would be familiar with, although a third of Atlantic Canadians are covered through benefit programs with Blue Cross which, along with Medavie Health Services, are offered by the company. Medavie's mission is to improve the well-being of Canadians. Our conversation with Medavie's CEO Bernard Lord (30th Premier of New Brunswick) provides an excellent overview of one the region's largest and most important head office companies. The company has nearly 9,000 employees of which more than 5,000 are in Atlantic Canada, which provide $400 million of wages within the region. Medavie is the company behind the management of MSI in Nova Scotia, as well as providing EMS ambulance services in six provinces, including the three Maritime Provinces where it operates more than 300 ambulances. Medavie is a not-for-profit company which reinvests its surpluses back into the company and the community through the Medavie Foundation. Lords talks about the company's continued growth opportunities and the role and benefits of private sector companies providing publicly funded healthcare services.
Subscribe to the newsletter to be notified of future podcasts.  Next week’s guest will be Karen Oldfield, Interim CEO of the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

This week's Insights Podcast features an in depth look at the growing wine industry in Nova Scotia which has become important both economically and from a tourism attraction perspective. We talk with Carl Sparkes, the CEO of Devonian Coastal Wineries, the owners of Jost Vineyards, Gaspereau Vineyards and Mercator Vineyards. Carl's background in food manufacturing provided a sound foundation for his transition into the wine industry. His company represents 50 percent of the wine industry in Nova Scotia and his wines have won many national and international awards, a testament to the growing reputation of the quality of wines being produced in Nova Scotia, especially the Tidal Bay varieties. Carl explains the challenges and opportunities related to growing the industry, especially with regard to the current regulatory environment and makes a strong case for the need to be able to sell wine and beer in grocery stores to help the industry grow in Nova Scotia. This podcast provides a great overview for anyone interested in learning more about this most interesting industry.

One of the real privileges attached to doing the Insights Podcast is to learn the back story behind some of the region's most successful entrepreneurs. This is the case with the Spatz family, beginning with the early years of Southwest Properties under family patriarch Simon Spatz and the continuing story of the company under the able leadership of his son Jim. Interestingly, Jim began his career as an emergency doctor in Montreal before giving up a medical career to join the family business. Southwest Properties is one of Halifax's largest landlords with over 2,000 units in the city. The company is also involved in hotels and other commercial properties as well as being recognized for some of Halifax's most iconic buildings including Bishop's Landings and the Pavilion. The company is about to build one of its biggest developments on property adjacent to Mount Saint Vincent University purchased from the Sisters of Charity, to be known as Seton Ridge. This development is expected to have 2,400 housing units upon completion and is being designed as an urban village. Southwest Properties has earned a reputation as a high-quality developer and Jim Spatz has a well-earned reputation for his philanthropy and community work. It is an interesting story indeed. 

To talk about this, we are joined this week by Michael Graydon, CEO of Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada, a 40-employee trade association representing most of the food and consumer product manufacturers in Canada. Michael provides an excellent overview of why companies are pulling out of Canada and offers some compelling solutions.  One place to start is regulation. There are over 140,000 different regulations facing companies doing business in Canada.  Some are important, others not so much.  He also thinks part of the solution would be to attract more manufacturing investment to Canada but right now jurisdictions in the United States are offering far more lucrative tax incentives to woo that investment.   This is an important issue and all Canadians should be paying close attention. 

This week we revisit a conversation John had with Don and David about building and selling Clearwater Seafoods and some interesting thoughts on public policy changes needed in Atlantic Canada.  

Since its founding in 2000, Killam Properties, headquartered in Halifax, has become one of Canada's largest landlords and Atlantic Canada's largest landlord. The company has $5 billion in assets, 25,000 housing units and annual revenues of over $300 million. This episode of the Insights Podcast features a conversation with Phil Fraser, the founding CEO of Killam, who has both a Master in Urban Planning and an MBA in his background. Phil takes us through the history of the company, the decision to become a REIT in 2016, the current challenges related to inflation and rising interest rates, the issue of housing affordability and what is next for Killam. This is a fascinating Atlantic Canadian success story that serves as a model for others in the region.

In this episode of the Insights Podcast , we examine a new initiative under development to build the first mass timber manufacturing plant in Atlantic Canada, led by Patrick Crabbe, the President & CEO of the Mass Timber Company and also the Director of Mass Timber for Bird Construction. Mass timber can be used to replace concrete and steel in the construction of residential and commercial buildings. There are already mass timber buildings being built in the region.  The company plans to build a manufacturing facility that will cost nearly $180 million and produce fifty thousand square cubic feet of mass timber, enough to construct more than 3,000 housing units per year once full production capacity is achieved. Mass timber, because it is manufactured off-site, has the advantage of shortening construction time by as much as 30 percent which translates into lower overall construction costs for developers, as well as lowering CO2 emissions by 45 percent. The company is working with two local sawmills, Elmsdale Lumber and Ledwidge Lumber, as their source of wood supply, which will create higher value end products for these sawmills. Construction is expected to start in mid-2024 and be completed in the fall of 2026.  This is the second in a new series on the Forest Industry in Atlantic Canada.  

This week, Don and David have a wide-ranging conversation with Paul MacLean, Bear Head's managing director. They cover the expected timetable for the project, how it will be financed, and the important role Bear Head Energy's owner, BAES Infrastructure, will play developing the markets for the company's green hydrogen and ammonia.

They also discuss the challenges with two green hydrogen projects in development at the same time, in the same geographical location, and how that affects the manpower and other resources needed to complete both projects.

There's a lot of hype in Nova Scotia around the relatively new and untested "green hydrogen" market. Anyone interested in that market, and what it might or might not mean for the province's economic future, will find a ton of insight in Don, David, and Paul's conversation.

Once thought of more as a "jock school," SMU has been steadily rising in the all-important Maclean's rankings, largely thanks to a well-executed strategy that has focussed on the university's key strengths.

In this episode of the Insights Podcast, Don and David unpack the school's strategy with its dynamic president and vice-chancellor, Rob Summerby-Murray. Their wide-ranging discussion touches on the economic impact of the university in Nova Scotia and its role in the community.

They also discuss the growing impact of SMU's Sobeys School of Business, especially its work developing young entrepreneurs. This episode is part of Insights' post-secondary series that has included the University of New Brunswick, Mount Allison University, and the Nova Scotia Community College.

According to Statistics Canada, Last year Canadian companies had just under $2 trillion invested in other countries, and the total value of all foreign investment in Canada amounted to $1.3 trillion. Broten says foreign companies operating in Canada support 2.5 million jobs, or 13 per cent of total employment across the country.

Her, Don, and David's conversation covers a wide variety of topics, including why should we want foreign companies to invest here and which industries are attracting investment from outside Canada.

Broten also tackles the thorny issue of government-provided corporate incentives to lure investment here instead of other countries. She provides a fascinating overview of Invest in Canada and its plan to attract high-quality companies to invest in strategic industries all across the country.

The Port is managed by DP World, one of the world's biggest Port management companies, and is served by not one but three Class A railways, including one that has direct access to the USA.

Don and David's conversation with the Port's CEO, Craig Estabrooks, outlines the details of the Port's modernization project, the future plans, and growing confidence in the Port which is leading the growth for the City of Saint John.

They also discuss the important role that the Port plays in the renewal of the waterfront with the City of Saint John.

All the NAS airports have since been modernized through an investment of more than $30 billion by the combined airport authorities across the country. The Halifax International Airport has been transformed and doubled in size since transfer through an investment of $750 million by HIAA.

Don Mills' conversation with Nova Scotia-born Monette Pasher, the CEO of the Canada Airports Council, which represent over 100 airports in Canada, including all 26 NAS airports, takes a look at the economic importance of the sector, the impact of the pandemic on the industry, where airports are in term of their recovery from the pandemic and some of the opportunities to improve the travel experience for passengers including the use of technologies like facial recognition.

The two also talk about what it will take to re-introduce the inter-provincial air service within Atlantic Canada that was a causality of the pandemic.

Previously, as the Minister of Natural Resources, O'Regan led the development of Canada's hydrogen strategy, which provides real opportunities for green hydrogen production in Atlantic Canada. 

O'Regan chats with Don and David about the recent amendments to the Atlantic Accords for both Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador that broaden those mandates to include green energy.

In his current role, O'Regan is responsible for a portion of the Canadian labour market. He talks about the challenges ensuring labour force availability in sectors like rail, air, trucking, and marine transportation. O'Regan is also strongly focused on his home province and clearly excited about its future. 

This broad and illuminating conversation provides an insider view of some of the priorities of the current government and the potential impacts on our region.

This week's episode features a fascinating conversation with Duncan Williams, the long-serving CEO and president of the Construction Association of Nova Scotia. Don, David, and Duncan take a close look at the current housing challenges and what needs to be done to ensure the supply of housing keeps up with rising demand.

Their conversation underscores the reality that closing the current gap will take some time and one of the issues that need to be addressed is the shortage of workers in the construction industry. Williams estimates Nova Scotia's construction industry must hire 11,000 new workers by 2030 just to replace the ones retiring. He adds that, for the province to grow to 2 million people, we must build 13,000-to-15,000 new homes a year. Right now, we're building less than 6,000 a year. Labour shortages are only adding to that problem.

The trio also discusses what needs to be done to ensure the availability of affordable housing and the roles that the private sector and governments play in resolving this particular challenge.

Dr. Shukla convinced one of the world’s leading thinkers about entrepreneurship and rapid growth, Dr. Daniel Isenberg, to partner and they have put together an impressive program to help ambitious entrepreneurs achieve their high-growth potential. 

Dr. Isenberg is the CEO of Entrepreneurship Policy Advisors, a celebrated author, global investor, former professor at Harvard Business School, and current professor (adjunct) at Columbia Business School. 

In this wide-ranging conversation, Isenberg and Shukla push back against some of David’s conventional views of entrepreneurship and bring some interesting new ideas to the table. Shukla and Isenberg discuss the Scale Up Atlantic Canada program, its recent successes, and the new cohort starting in July this year.

The bottom line? They believe there are anywhere between 2,000 and 4,000 companies in Atlantic Canada with the potential to scale up and build world-class companies. If only a fraction of these companies make it big, the impacts on our regional economy would be profound. 

Recently, the tire maker celebrated its 50th anniversary in the province. Michelin is the second largest tire manufacturer in the world, behind Japan-based Bridgestone, with 132,000 employees worldwide.

This week, Don and David have a rare and somewhat exclusive interview with Andrew Mutch, Michelin's president for North America (Canada).

Michelin is the largest private company in Nova Scotia, with three manufacturing plants and 3,600 employees. There are also 6,000 active retirees in the province, further contributing to the economy. The company is the largest single exporter in the province with $1.2 billion in tires being exported last year.

It is also a highly innovative company. Andrew talks about Michelin's development of hydrogen energy cells as an example of this innovation. He also speaks more about the company's recent announcement to invest a further $300 million in the province. This podcast lifts the lid a bit off the somewhat reclusive company. 

This week on the Insights podcast, Don and David talk with Karen Ogen, the CEO of the First Nations LNG Alliance. It's a group set up to raise awareness among First Nations of the importance of natural gas and other energy sector development to the prosperity of their communities.

Karen was formerly Chief of her community for six years and has spent her career advocating and supporting Indigenous economic development. She talks candidly about the challenges and how First Nations should be fully engaged in the development of the land and natural resources.

Karen provides her thoughts on what Atlantic Canada can learn from First Nations and natural resources developed in western Canada.

The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Acadian Seaplants is a Halifax-based seaweed company with a reach and scope that's far greater than most poeple realize. The company doesn't just produce seaweed, it turns it into highly valuable research products that it ships to 80 different companies.

JP tells Don and David about his father, Louis Deveau, who might have been content shipping dried seaweed and earning a good living. Instead, he built an innovation-based company producing agricultural bio-stimulants and other value-added products that are shipped around the world.

Acadian Seaplants is one of the most research-intensive companies in Atlantic Canada, with a research team of 50 staff and 15 PhDs. The company has operations in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ireland, and Scotland. JP has worked with his father for more than years and has big plans for the company in the years ahead.

The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Even if most people don't immediately recognize the name, Luminultra is a great example of a Fredericton success story. The company was founded and has been headquartered in Fredericton for decades. Although it does nearly all its business outside the region, it has no plans to move its head office.

Luminultra's reach is global and it has offices in six different countries, with its head office and manufacturing facilities in Fredericton. Pat weighs in on how the business environment in New Brunswick has been instrumental to the company’s success.

As a company that spends 10 times more than the average on research and development, Pat provides his thoughts on how we can stimulate more business-led research and development in the region.

The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

The PPF is a national think tank grappling with some of the biggest challenges facing the country. There is a lot of good news in this report and a number of challenges as well. Has Atlantic Canada turned a corner? Is the future bright?

Don, David, Wade, and Ed weigh in on some of the biggest issues and opportunities facing the region from immigrant retention to business research and development.

The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Remsoft has been in business for 30 years and is one of the oldest software development companies in New Brunswick. Andrea co-founded the firm at a time when there were very few female-led tech companies.

She tells us about her journey, the challenges and the rewards of building a successful company that now has clients on six continents. 

She also weighs in on several important issues: the difficulties so many entrepreneurs have breaking through the $1-$2 million revenue ceiling and the importance of diverse workforces for the province and region to maintain the recent positive momentum in economic and population growth.

 She also shares why she believes Canada is behind much of the rest of the world when it comes to its forest management practices, and why companies must listen to their young workers when they make demands of their employers. 

The Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA) has invested $750 million in transforming the airport since taking control about 25 years ago.

Don and David's conversation with HIAA CEO Joyce Carter looks at the role the airport has as an economic enabler for the region, the challenges presented by the pandemic, the authority's efforts to rebuild air traffic, and the future of air travel from Halifax, especially within the region.

During the pandemic, the number of routes was reduced from 46 to just four and the airport had to take on $150 million in debt to survive. Nonetheless, Carter expects a full recovery by 2025.

The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

The stereotypical images of flimsy buildings and low-quality mini-homes don't reflect today's reality. New technologies and practices mean modular construction can be used to create high-quality buildings, sometimes as high as 30 storeys. In Sweeden, about 85 per cent of homes have some modular element to them.

Brandon Searle is at the forefront of modular technology in the Maritimes. He's the Director of Innovation and Operations at the University of New Brunswick’s Off-site Construction Research Centre.

Searle joins Don and David on this week's Insights Podcast to talk about the work the centre is doing, and how modular construction could help address the Maritimes' housing crisis.

The Off-site Construction Research Centre has worked on more than two dozen projects and aims to be a national leader in the sector. According to Searle, modular construction is not only well-positioned to help with local housing demand, it could grow as a home-grown export sector in the years ahead.

The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Andrew Oland, the company's president and CEO, joins Don and David on this week’s Insights podcast.

Andrew tells Don and David about the company’s long history since Susannah Oland started the firm in 1865 (he is the 6th generation), and the bumps it encountered along the way, including burning down "several times."  He discusses the challenges and opportunities of being primarily focused on export markets and provides insight into how New Brunswick can continue to generate the second-most GDP from the brewery sector out of province in Canada.

The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Sandpiper Ventures is a women-led venture fund (which in itself is a rarity) that invests in seed-stage tech startups with women founders who hold C-suite positions. Sandpiper is based in Atlantic Canada, although invests beyond the region.

Sandpiper recently raised an initial $20 million fund. Our conversation with one of the fund's three founders and managing director, Rhiannon Davies, looks at the challenges women entrepreneurs face, the opportunities for investors focused on this segment of the market, and Sandpiper's investment strategy.

The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Newfoundland and Labrador's mining sector generates nearly $6 billion of economic activity, employs around 7,000 people, and represents about 8 percent of the province's GDP. The province is Canada's second-largest producer of iron ore and nickel and the third-largest in terms of copper production.

With a population that's more receptive to mining than other parts of the country, Newfoundland and Labrador has the potential to provide many of the critical minerals, including cobalt and lithium, needed to achieve net-zero by 2050.

Ed Moriarity is the perfect person to dig into this topic, and he provides valuable insight.

The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

The company is one of the largest private-sector employers in northeastern New Brunswick with more than 500 employees and it generates more than $150 million in annual sales.

Today on the Insights podcast, Don and David talk with Jean Claude Savoie, who founded the company with his father in 1978.  They discuss a wide range of issues including building a successful business from a small community, attracting and retaining immigrants into a rural area, family succession planning, and much more.

Jean Claude was inducted into the JA New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame in 2010.

The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

The big challenge facing cities now properly managing growth as they see a rapid increase in house prices, homelessness, and increased wait times for just about every public service.

Halifax's recently retired CAO, Jacques Dube, joins the Insights Podcast to talk about how municipalities can foster sustainable growth. He weighs in on it all: long-term vision, strategy, public engagement, downtown development, affordable housing, and public safety.

He also serves up a few spicy takes he never could have got away with in his old role. Did our leaders make a mistake with amalgamation? Are rural residents paying their fair share of taxes?

You'll have to listen to find out.

The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

 Over his forty-year career, Tim has become the Island’s largest commercial real estate developer. On the latest Insights Podcast, Tim talks about the housing shortage on the Island and some of the impediments limiting developers' ability to provide enough homes, especially within the urban core of Charlottetown where building heights are severely restricted. 

He also talks about the time he almost sued the premier, losing workers to the public sector, and his $60 million Blackbush resort development near Grand Tracadie.

You can listen to the full conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

MacDonald deserves as much credit for Clearwater's success as his higher-profile partner.

In the latest episode of the Insights podcast, MacDonald takes Don Mills and David Campbell through the company’s development and growth, as well as the ultimate decision to sell to a B.C.-based company and a group of First Nations led by Membertou in Cape Breton.

He talks about his long partnership with Risley and the reasons for their estrangement. This is a rare and very candid conversation with one of the region’s least-known but most successful entrepreneurs.

You can listen to MacDonald, Mills, and Campbell's conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The Insights podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

McNeil's reform of the collective bargaining process for public sector contracts, and his decision to close the pulp mill in Pictou and two aging hospitals in Cape Breton were all made knowing he would lose political support in each case.

His efforts to open new markets in China for the lobster industry and legislating the presumed consent for organ donations law were other notable achievements during his tenure. He got elected to govern. He did not govern to get re-elected. He was perhaps the most successful "conservative" premier in terms of his fiscal policies yet true to his liberal roots in terms of social justice issues. Like him or not, he lived by his principles.

Find out more about this important Nova Scotian and his legacy on the latest "Insights" podcast.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

On this week's "Insights" podcast, Don Mills and David Campbell continue a series of interviews with leaders in the mining sector across Atlantic Canada. They are joined by Matthew Allas, President and CEO of the Canadian Manganese Company, to talk about a large deposit of manganese located in the Woodstock area.

As it stands, China produces more than 90 percent of the world’s manganese and almost all of it stays there for use in the production of a wide variety of products including electric vehicles and batteries.

The Woodstock project is one of the largest deposits of manganese in the world. As North American firms look to develop EVs, batteries and other products to help the world reach its net zero 2050 commitment, New Brunswick could play an important role.

Allas tells us about the size of the opportunity and the timing and potential roadblocks to getting the mine into production. He says this could be a multigenerational economic opportunity that creates hundreds of high-paying jobs and tens of millions in royalty revenue each year for the provincial government.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

On the latest "Insights" podcast, Don Mills and David Campbell tap into that enthusiasm, answering questions from listeners and business leaders about the challenges and opportunities for economic development this year.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

On the latest "Insights" podcast, Sean Kirby, the Executive Director of the Mining Association of Nova Scotia, says the demand for critical minerals used in electric vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines will increase by six times the current demand.

The challenge is that the time required to explore, secure regulatory and environmental approvals, and develop a mine site can range from 5 to 25 years. There is now an urgency to streamline that process because provinces like Nova Scotia can play a critical role in supplying minerals critical to fighting climate change.

"We need a huge global effort in order to open hundreds of new mines to meet the mineral supply challenge that global climate plans require," says Kirby. "Nova Scotia has the potential to contribute to that and play a role. I think we have a responsibility to do so."

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Canada's strategy to grow its population and workforce is the most aggressive in the G7. In the latest "Insights" podcast, Don Mills and David Campbell talk with Sean Fraser, the Federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, about the government's efforts to boost immigration to record levels. 

They discuss the government's willingness to increase the number of refugees; the importance of post-secondary institutions in attracting and retaining immigrants; and efforts to mitigate the impact of immigration on healthcare, housing and education through policy changes and further capital investment.

This will provide listeners with an excellent overview of this critical issue to the future prosperity of Canada.

"You walk down Main Street of any community in Canada, there are going to be 'help wanted' signs in the windows," says Fraser, MP for Central Nova.

"We had almost a million jobs open in the Canadian economy at a time when nearly 100 percent of our labour force growth already comes from immigration. We can't train Canadians quickly enough to fill the gaps in the labour market that exist today, and to prepare for the skills gap that's going to exist over the next generation."

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could be an important source of electricity production that provides essentially carbon-free energy that, unlikely many other sources of green energy, provides baseload stable power production whether or not wind is blowing or the sun is shining.

SMRs are smaller, less complex, lower cost and should be far faster to deploy compared to earlier, larger-scale nuclear energy facilities.

We talk to Brett Plummer, Chief Nuclear Officer and Vice President at NB Power about the potential of SMRs not only to address energy needs in New Brunswick and possibly around the region but also as a catalyst for regional economic development.

If all goes to plan, potentially hundreds of businesses in the supply chain will develop expertise here that could be exported around the world. The plan is to have an SMR providing power to the New Brunswick electricity grid by 2030.

“As we build out the infrastructure around the Small Modular Reactors, we’ll influence everyone in Atlantic Canada and elsewhere in Canada,” he says. “We’ve already had some engineering companies open up offices in New Brunswick in Saint John around the [SMRs] and we’re seeing more and more interest almost weekly. It’s building a tremendous amount of momentum.”

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

After numerous failed attempts by others to generate power from the world's highest and most powerful tides, Sustainable Marine has taken a different approach to the task of tapping into the tidal power of the Bay of Fundy that has the potential to power two million homes and help provide green renewable energy to Nova Scotia to replace coal-generated electricity.

The smelter has closed and NB Power’s facilities, the port’s top customer, will not be importing coal by 2030. What is the role of the Port of Belledune to support the next 20-30 years of economic opportunities in the region?

Denis Caron, President & CEO of the port joins David Campbell and Don Mills on the "Insights" podcast this week to talk about the new vision.  Once again, Denis is positioning the port at the centre of a new generation of economic development that includes a green energy hub and the value-added production of products based on green and clean energy.

He envisions a port with deeper integration with European markets for both import and export opportunities. If this important region of New Brunswick is to thrive in the years ahead, the Port of Belledune has an important role to play.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

This revealing conversation provides insight into a wide variety of issues including timing (i.e. when will construction on the first SMR begin); price competitiveness (i.e. how will the price per kWh compare to other forms of electricity production); and the potential for the development of a nuclear energy cluster in New Brunswick.

For those concerned about the safety of nuclear energy, Labbe makes a strong case that aSMR technology will be a safe and reliable form of energy for decades to come.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

For more than a decade, EfficiencyOne has been helping residents and industries to become more energy efficient leading to cost savings for them and a reduction in demand for electricity and other energy sources. MacDonald estimates this year alone, energy efficiency investments made since the inception of EfficiencyOne will reduce energy costs by $1.5 billion, significantly lower Nova Scotia’s carbon footprint and support thousands of good-paying jobs in construction and related activities across the province.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Rustum was recently inducted into the N.S. Business Hall of Fame and named one of Canada's most influential black leaders. Through BBI's counsel, training programs and financial support, several hundred black businesses have been created since its inception 25 years ago. This podcast provides an inside understanding of the initiatives and programs used by BBI to support and develop black businesses in our region.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Don provides insights on how he dealt with adversity, the importance of volunteerism and why he spends much of his time these days promoting a new vision for Atlantic Canada. 

The conversation with Tareq Hadhad, the young and dynamic CEO of Peace by Chocolate is nothing less than inspiring, providing a better understanding of the value that immigrants bring to Canada. With strong support from their community and Sobeys, the Hadhads have a growing national business and are creating significant employment in Nova Scotia. Equally impressive is their focus on social causes related to peace around the world. It's a compelling story that is worth hearing.

Last week, we shared the first part of the conversation between Tareq, Don Mills and David Campbell. It focused mainly on the Hadhads journey to Canada and their efforts to build a new life here after a war that destroyed their home and chocolate factory.

In the latest episode, Tareq tells the story of how they established a new chocolate business in Antigonish and initiated charitable programs that support initiatives across the country.

You can listen to part one of their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

The conversation with Tareq Hadhad, the young and dynamic CEO of Peace by Chocolate is nothing less than inspiring, providing a better understanding of the value that immigrants bring to Canada. With strong support from their community and Sobeys, the Hadhads have a growing national business and are creating significant employment in Nova Scotia. Equally impressive is their focus on social causes related to peace around the world. It's a compelling story that is worth hearing.

You can listen to part one of their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Since its heyday as an industrial powerhouse in the 1960s and 1970s, the region has struggled to reposition itself and that has led to slow but steady depopulation. Now, according to Mattheis, a new Cape Breton could be emerging leveraging key assets such as Cape Breton University and Sydney Port, new industries such as clean energy, and a significant increase in the number of newcomers moving to the Island.

Cape Breton is a test case for economic renewal in Atlantic Canada. Everyone should be paying attention.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

In partnership with the Bear River First Nation, the ownership group has already invested $10 million on basic infrastructure. It's now open year-round as a result of these initial investments, with ambitious plans to spend another $125 million over the next five years or so.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Squires, Don Mills and David Campbell learn more about the capital investment plans that include condos on-site and the challenges of turning the Pines into a year-round resort.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

This special interest podcast begins with a look at the latest population data and the impacts that rapid population growth is having on the labour market, the housing market, education and health care. We are clearly in transition to a faster-growing population than has been the case in the past for the region and we will need to quickly learn how to adapt to different economic and market pressures to take advantage of that growth. 

The discussion ranges from the current state of the industry (not expected to fully return to the pre-pandemic level until 2025), some of the positive trends emerging from the pandemic and what needs to happen to ensure tourism remains an important economic driver in Atlantic Canada.

Across the four provinces, it is a $3.5-billion export sector that supports 46,000 direct jobs. Fiander talks about the work underway to boost the tourism workforce, attract entrepreneurs and build strong tourism products in our region.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

This revenue supports a couple of hundred high-paying head office jobs in Halifax. Emera spends more than $2 billion annually on goods and services in the region, benefitting more than 7,000 companies across Atlantic Canada and creating more than 4,000 indirect jobs.

At the same time, its subsidiary companies like Nova Scotia Power are in transition from thermal electric generation to renewable energy to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. Scott talks about the challenge of closing coal plants before their time and the strategies to replace this source of energy.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Emery helps us understand the current state of the economy in Atlantic Canada and what we need to do to foster a strong economy moving forward. The conversation is wide-ranging from inflation to immigration and export-led economic growth.

"You start with exports, that draws in capital, then you draw in population," says Emery. "You can get to three percent growth if you can grow the value of your exports. It can be [the] quantity that you put out, it can be increasing value add or it can just be increasing the price by finding new markets. To [increase] exports, what does the government need to do? Focus with laser-like accuracy on the conditions that make exports competitive."

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

This week on the Huddle "Insights" podcast, they speak with Scott Skinner, the CEO of the Clean Foundation in Nova Scotia. With a staff of 90 people, the non-profit organization delivers programming on green energy solutions for individuals, organizations and businesses. They also develop policy prescriptions for helping the province and country at large achieve ambitious net-zero emission targets by 2050.

"We've become really good at speaking to people who are in our 'climate bubble,' " says Skinner, "but a lot of things that are coming out in policies and programs, the general public is kind of confused by them, not always keeping track of them in the same way."

"We're thinking a lot about how we get these messages out to the community in the ways that they are ready to accept them. And identify how they can be part of solutions. We feel it's important to make sure the right people who are eligible for programs are putting their hands up when they need to."

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Joyce and his family have invested more than $100 million in the resort that opened in 2000. The resort's economic impact in terms of county taxes, employment and purchase of local goods and services is in the millions of dollars annually.

In the latest "Insights" podcast, Kevin Toth, the President of Fox Harb'r, talks about how the resort has managed through the pandemic, the current season and the increase in business,  the opening of the new conference centre; and their plans looking ahead. Having a world-class destination like Fox Harb'r is important not only for Cumberland County but the whole of Nova Scotia.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could be an important source of electricity production that provides essentially carbon-free energy that, unlikely many other sources of green energy, provides baseload stable power production whether or not wind is blowing or the sun is shining.

SMRs are smaller, less complex, lower cost and should be far faster to deploy compared to earlier, larger-scale nuclear energy facilities.

We talk to Brett Plummer, Chief Nuclear Officer and Vice President at NB Power about the potential of SMRs not only to address energy needs in New Brunswick and possibly around the region but also as a catalyst for regional economic development. 

If all goes to plan, potentially hundreds of businesses in the supply chain will develop expertise here that could be exported around the world. The plan is to have an SMR providing power to the New Brunswick electricity grid by 2030.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Vichie's company has already invested about $100 million in the project, recently completing the purchase of the tank farm at Point Tupper which has the capacity to store nearly eight million barrels of fuel.

EverWind has ambitions to transform Nova Scotia into an energy hub in Eastern Canada. Learn more about EverWinds' ambitious plans that include details on when the company plans to begin production of green hydrogen (and ammonia) is expected.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Risley shares candid opinions about the kinds of public policy changes needed in Atlantic Canada. He also tells the story about how Clearwater Seafoods was founded and the decision to sell to a company with an ownership group that includes a Mi’kmaq First Nations coalition.

“[We] didn’t’ have family in the business and it made sense to pass ownership on to [peope] we thought would be good stewards of what we had put together over the long term,” says Risley.

“The company will have had its best year ever since the sale, so it’s a great way for them to have started off this relationship with the company performing above both their expectations and our expectations.”

This conversation was originally uploaded on May 13, 2021, but the insights are still fresh. You can listen to the conversation with Risley in the player above. Better yet, search for “Huddle Insights” on a podcast platform like Apple or Spotify. Follow the show and never miss an episode. You can also listen to past episodes on those platforms.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, to promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and to encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

In this rebroadcast of one of the most popular Huddle “Insights” podcasts, Don Mills and David Campbell have a look at the challenges of rural economic development and speak to one of the region’s biggest proponents of rural development, the CEO of the Bragg Group of Companies that includes Oxford Frozen Foods and Eastlink.

With more than 600 employees in Oxford, Nova Scotia, and more than 6,000 across the entire group of companies, John discusses the impact of the growth of his businesses on the small town of Oxford and offers some concrete suggestions on how other rural communities can grow and what is needed to support rural development in Atlantic Canada.

“You have to start with the entrepreneurs,” says Bragg. “When I travel around Nova Scotia…I would say, ‘who is the entrepreneur in this town? Who is the entrepreneur in this village?’ There are entrepreneurs in every town and village in Atlantic Canada. We need government policies that encourage those people.”

John says he’s not talking about “giving money away.” He’s talking about supporting them by making it easy for them to cut through red tape and access capital to start and grow successful businesses. He also says small communities need schools and available housing to support an employee base.

This conversation was originally uploaded on May 13, 2021, but the insights are still fresh. You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, to promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and to encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Hawkins provides an interesting perspective on what needs to be done to get to net zero by 2050, especially with regard to the role that renewable natural gas and green hydrogen can play in transforming his company over time. They have also a good discussion about the proposed Atlantic Loop and some of the challenges associated with its implementation. 

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

The company has developed a unique ocean-based carbon removal technology that recently won a $1-million Xprize from the Elon Musk Foundation. Its mission is to remove one billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2035.

At the same time, the company's process will help de-acidify the oceans and generate green hydrogen and battery metals to replace fossil fuels. The company's technologies are in a demonstration phase now; if successful, they will be game changers for climate change.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

After numerous failed attempts by others to generate power from the world's highest and most powerful tides, Sustainable Marine has taken a different approach to the task of tapping into the tidal power of the Bay of Fundy that has the potential to power two million homes and help provide green renewable energy to Nova Scotia to replace coal-generated electricity.

His company matches older workers with companies in need of short-term talent in technical, management and mentorship roles.

On the latest Huddle "Insights" podcast, he joins Don Mills and David Campbell to talk about how older workers could be mobilized to help ensure workforce demand can be filled in the years ahead.

SeasonedPros already has 10,000 older workers for hire in its database.

"Sometimes, my elevator speech is we're e-harmony for employers," laughs Emberley. "It's fundamentally an online service driven from a database we've developed and a technology platform that allows employers of any description...looking to fill gigs, you know, the gig economy, the idea that they have an emerging or immediate gap in their workforce and they're looking to fill it."

The opportunity is significant. If Atlantic Canada’s 60+ workforce had the same labour market participation rate as the workforce in Alberta, there would be 54,000 more people working across Atlantic Canada.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

The company has an interesting product and service meant to help companies and their employees take better control over their own cybersecurity. David talks about his personal road to entrepreneurship and the company’s plan to carve off its share of the $75-billion cybersecurity industry from Atlantic Canada.

David has ambitious plans for the company. In just five years, it's grown from around $100,000 in annual revenue to nearly $3 million. David wants to grow that yearly total to $10 million and ultimately $100 million in a competitive but lucrative global market. He wants Beauceron to have the same impact as Q1 Labs and Radian6, which created jobs and other entrepreneurial opportunities in the province.

"The dream for me is to chase ... the Q1 Labs legend and to try and follow that same trajectory," he says.

"How do we create hundreds of jobs in New Brunswick and then tie them to something even larger, and create even more opportunities and fuel that cluster, that expertise, that virtuous cycle that includes not just the good payday to your early investors and the angels that believed in you, but you're also creating the next generation of entrepreneurs."

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

With most regulatory approvals now in place, the company is nearing its construction phase which will see an investment of $150 million to build Canada's first commercial spaceport. Find out about the company's plans, its decision to locate in Canso and the economic benefits to the community.

Matier, who is from New Mexico, says there will be many spinoff opportunities, including tourism because people will travel to the province for launch events.

"I'm from the Albuquerque area and every episode of 'Breaking Bad' generated well over a million dollars in tourism opportunities, just from each episode being filmed there over multiple years," he says. "If you look at it from a launch perspective...which will be a tourism draw, not just an economic impact of the event itself, it is going to be quite significant."

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Many of the province’s top tech startups - most notably Verafin, which sold for nearly $3-billion U.S. - were incubated through the centre’s Enterprise program, which has an innovative royalty-based financing model. Newfoundland and Labradors’ tech sector is getting noticed and still growing.

"Our tech sector is still relatively new. It's probably only 15 to 20 years of real snowballing growth and maybe even less than that," says Simms.

"[We have] the exit from Verafin and a number of other really exciting things that have happened in this province recently. There are probably six or seven other acquisitions that have happened in the last two years. We're going to see a lot more re-investment of that money into our local startup ecosystem and I really do see that snowball getting bigger and bigger and bigger as it rolls down the hill."

A CBC documentary Silicon Island also came out last fall and highlights some of the most promising firms. Simms tells Don and David about the importance of immigrant and female founders to the province’s recent startup boom.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Entrevestor, the leading chronicler on startup companies in the region, has a new report coming out on June 14 but he gives us a sneak peek. Want to know how much investment the 771 firms received in 2021? Want to know the percentage of the 2019 startup cohort that didn't survive the pandemic? Interested in his insights into clean tech, ocean tech, fintech and cybersecurity?

Peter muses about what would be different now if he was to update his 2009 book, Backwater, a stern indictment of the state of the economy and politics in the region.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

Beyond the role of educator, universities are important economic enablers as an employer and consumers of goods and services; as innovators and researchers; as incubators for entrepreneurs; and as community partners.

"It's the largest employer in Sackville, the majority of our faculty and staff living in the local area that includes, of course, Amherst, Moncton, Memramcook, Port Elgin," says Boudreau.

"Twenty-three hundred students, local landlords, services, grocery, retail, and restaurants. If you want across campus you'll see a number of renovation projects going on. You'll see building projects, the delivery of goods and services...These bring people and dollars to this community."

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca/atlantic-canada-is-home/

In this episode of the "Insights" podcast, Don Mills and David Campbell talk to CEO Don Bureaux about the transformation of the institution over the past 20 years, its role as an employer and economic enabler, and its success adapting to changing labour market needs.

"We exist ... to produce the human capital for the economy," says Bureaux. "Approximately 90 per cent of our students are working within six months of graduation within their field of study. About 90 per cent of those graduates are working in the province of Nova Scotia. Even more impressive, a large percentage are working within the county or the next county in which they studied."

"So we tend to have students who live in their community, study in their community and work in their community."

We also talk about the increasing collaboration between the College and the universities in the province and the work of the College directly with the private supply to train workers to meet increasing job demand.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca/atlantic-canada-is-home/

Listeners may be surprised to hear the organization is one of the larger research and development organizations in the region with 40 staff. The Centre is working with 40+ companies to develop innovative new bio-economy and green energy ideas.

Dr. Mason has big plans for the bio-economy and clean technologies in Nova Scotia. Could Cape Breton develop a model and the results we have seen with the PEI bio-economy?

"When I came here what I saw was Cape Breton when I left it more than 30 years ago - dying primary industry and a hotbed for future innovation," says Dr. Mason.

"The challenge was we just weren't recognizing that. The longer you don't recognize it the longer you stagnate. But if you think globally about what the world needs today, there is absolutely no reason you can't do that in Cape Breton, in Nova Scotia, in Atlantic Canada, in Canada as a whole."

Up next we will be talking to Michelle Simms, the President and CEO of the Genesis Centre at Memorial University.  Lots of great things happening in Newfoundland and Labrador these days.  Subscribe to the Insights podcast wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca/atlantic-canada-is-home/

“If people feel welcome they generally stay if there are reasonable opportunities,” says Jim. “Just like we tell the government, money goes where it’s wanted. Well, people will stay where they’re wanted," he told "Insights" hosts David Campell and Don Mills.

“There are always opportunities,” says Jim. “Number one, though, we’ve got to get the population up. There are going to be limited opportunities if we have a declining population.”

The interview originally aired in April of last year, but the issue and Irving's analysis still resonate today.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

"After more than 50 conversations with some of Atlantic Canada’s top business and government leaders, I am more convinced than ever that the region has a bright future," says Campbell. "We have many challenges ahead of us and I look forward to shining a light on those challenges in the months ahead through the Insights podcast."

Campbell says the podcast is offering a unique perspective in a fast-growing global podcast market.

"There are more than three million podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcasts but as far as I know only one that is going deep on the economic and demographic issues that matter to us here in Atlantic Canada. It’s worth an hour of your time each week."

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca/atlantic-canada-is-home/

Its one-stop approach has been proven successful, recently celebrating its first unicorn investment where its investment of $3-million in Meta Materials Inc. six years ago has returned $101-million to the crown corporation. Innovacorp operates three separate incubation facilities, the Labs, the Bays and COVE.

"They have utilized all of the services at Innovacorp. They've been in our incubation facility. They've used all of our acceleration programs. We invested capital in them," said CEO Malcolm Fraser. "We believe doing all of those things...provides a higher likelihood of success for these companies."

In his conversation with Don Mills on the latest episode of the Huddle "Insights" podcast, Fraser talks about the focus of Innovacorp and its success, as well as the increasing collaboration within the region with similar organizations.

You can listen to the conversation with Cooper in the player above. Better yet, search for “Huddle Insights” on a podcast platform like Apple or Spotify. Follow the show and never miss an episode. You can also listen to past episodes on those platforms.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca/atlantic-canada-is-home/

These early investments allow the firms to attract other sources of capital and ultimately scale their innovative ideas to national and international markets. White says NBIF has generated an average annual return of 6.6 percent over 18 years on the money it has invested in startup companies. Too bad they are not open to individual investors.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca/atlantic-canada-is-home/

What would it take to encourage businesses to invest more into innovation? How can we better leverage public research and development expenditures to create stronger provincial economies?

What is the role of entrepreneurship and innovative start-up companies? This is where we start the series by talking to Matt Cooper, Chief Innovation Officer at Volta in Halifax. Cooper goes deep into how Volta is supporting tech-based entrepreneurship in Atlantic Canada and helping nurture new companies with great ideas.

From recruitment support to preparing a compelling business plan for investors, Volta and other incubators around New Brunswick have an important role to play.

You can listen to the conversation with Cooper in the player above. Better yet, search for “Huddle Insights” on a podcast platform like Apple or Spotify. Follow the show and never miss an episode. You can also listen to past episodes on those platforms.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca/atlantic-canada-is-home/

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca.

"People drive economies so we need people," says Houston of his ambitious goal to grow the population to two million by 2060. "We know the flip side of that from depopulation. We know what happens when communities lose people. Schools close, stores close, and then you get caught in that negative3 vortex because it's oftentimes it's those that remain are aging. The cycle goes on and on."

"The cycle is being broken; the population is turning around. People are realizing what we already know, and that's the quality of life here, where you're never far from a city and you're never far from a beach. You can have everything you want in between, so we have a lot to offer people."

In his chat with Mills and Campbell, Houston also says improving access to quality healthcare is his other main priority.

This is the third of our exclusive series of "Insights" interviews with Atlantic Canada’s premiers; on the last episode Mills and Campbell spoke with New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs.

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca.

Higgs says the province is emerging strongly from the pandemic, both in the eyes of people who already live here and those looking to move here from somewhere else.

"It caused people to look within and see what a great province we have," he says.

"As a province, I've always felt it was a belief in one's self-worth - not, we can't do that in New Brunswick, but yes we can...then you see people looking at us for the first time and started to call and buy houses virtually."

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca.

Progressive Conservative Premier King is an unconventional poilitical leader in these highly partisan times. He is a collaborator - a friendly, affable and self-effacing person who gives credit to and works well with others, including opposition parties and former premiers from other parties.

A noteworthy example would be former Liberal premier Wade MacLauchlan. King credits him with creating the right policies and setting the right tone for immigration, which has helped P.E.I. outpace the country in attracting newcomers to the province. King says it's important to make it easier for people to settle down there.

"Anybody who moves here, whether you're a refugee or an immigrant, or whether you're relocating back from Calgary after having lived there for 20 years, you want a place to live, a place to thrive, a place for your family to be safe, and you want those comforts of home," says King.

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca.

When the airport released its last economic impact study in 2016, it showed the Moncton airport was a significant economic driver, employing about 500 people full-time and generating around $665-million in economic activity.

"There's a huge benefit in having an airport and that's why no region or municipality wants to give up their airport," said LeBlanc.

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca.

Charlebois, the Senior Director of the Agri-Foods Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, chats with Mills about the opportunities for growth in an Atlantic region that already employs from 25,000 to 27,000 people and generates up to $7-billion in exports.

"There's so much potential, not only in Atlantic Canada but across the country, to grow the economy by fostering this mentality of growing processing," he says. "That's where the innovation will happen. The biggest challenge we have in the Atlantic is processing. Increasing processing captivity should be the number one priority."

Charlebois also talks about issues like food inflation and the potential for growing the organic sector.

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca.

ALC has contributed $10-billion since its inception in the 1970s to provincial governments in support of public services like health and education. In the latest Huddle "Insights" podcast, Don Mills and David Campbell chat with ALC CEO Patrick Daigle about the economic impact of the region's lottery corporation.

Under the proposal, qualified businesses could receive angel investment from across Atlantic Canada and the investors would receive a tax credit no matter where the company is located within the four provinces. 

The three make a strong case that the time is now for such a program as a vital tool to expand the pool of risk capital available to early-stage companies across the region. All three believe Atlantic Canada is well-positioned to benefit from innovation-led growth in the coming years.

In this edition of the Huddle "Insights" podcast, McGuire talks with co-hosts David Campbell and Don Mills about the strategies he used to grow Major Drilling and the current ones he is employing to take Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) in a new direction.

Convinced by others, including Frank McKenna, to take on his current role as the CEO of ACOA, McGuire has taken the organization in a new direction. The organization has placed a greater emphasis on immigration to help address the growing labour market needs within the region, as well as preparing organizations for automation and the digitalization of the economy in Atlantic Canada.

Pond chats with co-host David Campbell about his career starting out in the mid-1960s at NBTel dealing with "party line" complaints in rural New Brunswick rising to CEO of Aliant and then nearly two decades of founding and investing in IT startups across Atlantic Canada, including Radian6 and Q1 Labs.

He weighs in on everything from the pipeline for tech entrepreneurs in the region; the role of government to help encourage tech startups; and why he is bullish on the ocean technology cluster.

"There are 35 million-plus Canadians. We could probably within a year single-handedly make sure the demand for Canada has been taken care of if we were the ones to produce the vaccine in the future," says company CEO Oliver Technow.

On this episode of the "Insights" podcast, Technow speaks with co-host Don Mills about the origins of the company and the original vision of its founder Regis Duffy, and how the company has grown over the decades to its present capabilities.

 On this week's podcast, Don Mills talks with Envision CEO Paulette Hicks about the organization's aggressive growth plans and the development of a new brand for the region that will be introduced early in 2022. 

Bragg is one of the Maritimes business titans that have inspired books by Donald Savoie, who joins David Campbell and Don Mills on the "Insights" podcast this week to talk about The Rural Entrepreneur: John Bragg.

James is a comedian, magazine editor, author, podcaster and, most of all, entrepreneur. He joins Don Mills and David Campbell to talk about his journey and how he became an accidental champion for Atlantic Canada.  

On this episode of the "Insights" podcast, Don Mills and David Campbell chat with Huddle editor Mark Leger about the people they've spoken to (a group that includes former Newfoundland finance minister Cathy Bennett, JDI co-CEO Jim Irving and Frank McKenna) and the issues they've discussed (from labour force development to immigration to energy development and innovation).

On the week's episode of the "Insights" podcast, Denis Larocque, President and CEO of Major Drilling and Andrew McLaughlin, the company’s VP of Legal Affairs and General Counsel, weigh in on the pros and cons of being a publicly-traded company. Moncton-based Major Drilling, one of the province’s few publicly traded firms, has used its ability to raise capital to become one of the world's largest drilling services companies.

McLaughlin has written a persuasive report outlining the benefits and believes more publicly held companies would be good for the economy, which Huddle will be publishing later this week. He says New Brunswick has a lot of large family-owned businesses and a strong ecosystem of smaller businesses.

"What seems to be missing is that middle layer that can expand into titan status. I'm talking about companies with $200-million in revenue that can grow up to the $1-billion mark," McLaughlin tells "Insights" co-host David Campbell.

"It's this layer of companies that are the drivers of wealth creation and economic dynamism in other provinces. It's this realm where public companies can play a particularly prominent role."

He will also talk about the economic impact of the energy sector in Atlantic Canada and how we can continue to use energy as an economic development driver in the years ahead. If you want a primer on the energy transition from the perspective of Atlantic Canada, Jacobsen provides an ideal summary. 

Crowley is the managing director and founder of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. He's also the founder and former president of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, now part of the Fraser Institute. He joins Don and David to talk about how Atlantic Canada needs to take charge of its economic destiny and stop looking to Ottawa to solve its problems through equalization payments and regional aid programs.

They discuss the direct economic impact of this sector and its increasingly important role as conduits for immigration, incubators of new entrepreneurs and catalysts for research and development.

There is no doubt about the City of Moncton’s status as a successful city. It has been one of the fastest-growing larger cities in Canada over the past five years and the metropolitan region (including the City of Dieppe and Town of Riverview) has outpaced Halifax for gross domestic product (GDP) growth over the past 10 years. Mayor Dawn Arnold shares her views on the importance of immigration, arts and culture and the city’s bilingual population and Marc Landry stresses the importance of partnership and collaboration. We hope you enjoy this conversation!

Darrell Bricker, Global CEO of Public Affairs for Ipsos and co-author of ‘Empty Planet’, says the global population is actually going to shrink instead and policymakers around the world have to rethink their growth strategies as a result. On the latest episode of the Huddle "Insights" podcast, Mills talks with Bricker about what that means for Atlantic Canada, which has experienced slow growth in terms of population and GDP for more than a decade.

Now the CEO of the Canadian Centre for the Purpose of the Corporation, Gallant also talks about the successes and shortcomings of his own time in office and answers Campbell's questions about whether he'd like to return to politics sometime in the future.

Scott provides some interesting examples of emerging opportunities in the province, some addressing a key challenge for Nova Scotia - growing the economy beyond Halifax where most of the population and economic growth is happening in the province.

In his 80s and showing no signs of slowing down, the CEO of Visionary Vehicles is back with a new electric vehicle project, the Bricklin 3EV. This conversation was the keynote event at the Town of Riverview annual Sustaina-Palooza conference in April. The three-day virtual event featured 40 speakers from 14 countries leading a conversation about innovative leadership within the sustainability sector.

With more than 600 employees in Oxford, Nova Scotia, and more than 6,000 across the entire group of companies, John discusses the impact of the growth of his businesses on the small town of Oxford and offers some concrete suggestions on how other rural communities can grow and what is needed to support rural development in Atlantic Canada.

Key economic metrics like GDP growth and job creation have lagged behind the rest of the country in the region with the exception of PEI. At least a billion dollars per year is spent on economic development activities in the region. It is fair to ask whether or not we are receiving a fair return on that investment or if that spending is fostering economic growth at all. At a minimum, it is time for a higher level of accountability.

In the first in a three-part series of conversations about improving economic development performance in Atlantic Canada, hosts Don Mills and David Campbell chat with Stephen Lund, the CEO of Toronto Global, the organization responsible for attracting international investment to the region. Stephen is the only person to have been CEO of both Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB) and Nova Scotia Business Inc., the two organizations responsible for leading development in those two provinces.

Historically, the four Atlantic Provinces only retain about half of the newcomers over the longer term. Retention rates have been getting a little better in recent years, particularly for those who have a job that matches their education, skills and background.

In this week's episode, David Campbell and Don Mills sit down with Co-CEO Jim Irving to talk about the company’s immigration attraction activities and to get his insight into how we can better attract and retain newcomers to our region. Instead of just complaining about the growing shortage of workers, Jim Irving believes the private sector should work closely with the government to develop solutions.
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There are over 300,000 people expected to retire in the next decade and not nearly enough young people to take their place in the workforce.  If we can’t significantly boost the working-age population it will force many industries to downsize or leave the region. Less economic activity will lead to less tax revenue for governments imperilling the sustainability of our public services, particularly health care.  We talk about immigration as well as attracting people from the rest of Canada. This is not just a challenge for cities. Workforce shortages are facing all regions of Atlantic Canada. 

This is the first in a series of conversations about population growth in the region that will feature interviews with area companies and advocates for increased immigration.