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David Campbell

Don and David book launch

Help Wanted: Workforce Crisis in Atlantic Canada

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This is a rebroadcast of a previous episode. This week’s Insights Podcast focuses on a recent report prepared by David Campbell for the Public Policy Forum called “Help Wanted: Solving Atlantic Canada’s Growing Labour Challenge”. David is a Fellow with the Public Policy Forum as well as the co-host of the Insights Podcast.  In our conversation, he notes that Atlantic Canada will need more than 440,000 new workers by 2035 to replace those retiring and fill new jobs created by economic growth. He points out that 20% of today’s workforce in the region are 55 years old or more and will most likely be out of the workforce by 2035. More critically, due to low birth rates and an older population, Atlantic Canada does not have the capacity to produce the workers needed for the future. In fact, the shortfall is nearly 270,000 workers that will have to be attracted to the region from elsewhere. It is a crisis that is already evident. We talk about what needs to happen to address this growing problem.

Don Mills

Bolder Ambitions: Building a More Prosperous Atlantic Canada

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On this week’s Insights podcast, Don talks with David about the Atlantic Economic Panel’s new report Bolder Ambitions: Greater Prosperity for All. After nearly a year of work, the panel sets out a bold agenda focused on population growth, investment attraction, improved regional trade, diversifying international export growth and other drivers of regional prosperity. Don walks us through the findings and what comes next. 

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Nova Scotia’s Lost Century and What Needs to Happen Now

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In this episode of the Insights Podcast, our guest is Ian Thompson, the author of a new book called “Nova Scotia’s Lost Century: Can We Change Course”. Ian has an interesting background as a journalist, entrepreneur and senior civil servant that he used to help write the book and brings a fresh perspective to the topic as a result. The book is an interesting read that chronicles the decline of Nova Scotia’s economic fortunes following Confederation, which the people of the province at the time generally resisted, led by Joe Howe. In our conversation, Thompson talks about the basis for that resistance and what Nova Scotia was like before and after Confederation. He describes the province as ” have-nots that wouldn’t say yes”, providing specific examples of that behaviour and how it has held the province back. He points out examples of success in the province that provide hope for the future and the opportunities to change the direction of the province. For those interested in a better understanding of how Nova Scotia got to its present position, we would highly recommend reading Thompson’s book. In the meantime, the podcast provides a good overview of its content.

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Gerry Pond’s Legacy: Building Companies, Backing Entrepreneurs, Shaping a Region

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A few weeks ago, Gerry Pond, one of New Brunswick’s great business leaders, passed away.  On this week’s Insights podcast, Don and David welcome Curtis Howe, Gerry’s long-time friend and business partner, to discuss his life and legacy.  Few in New Brunswick have had such a meaningful business career.  For more than three decades, he helped shape NBTel into one of North America’s most innovative telecommunications companies.  He then went on to co-found a top information technology (IT) company in Atlantic Canada and invest in over 80 companies through East Valley Ventures. 

After a 40-year relationship, few are better positioned than Curtis to share the story of Gerry Pond.  After leaving NBTel, he mused about starting an asphalt company.  While there is no doubt he would have succeeded in this business, Atlantic Canada’s IT sector and the dozens of successful entrepreneurs he supported are glad he went in a different direction.  This one is well worth an hour of your time. 

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Three Brothers transform their sports passion into a business

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On this week’s Insights Podcast, our guests are Todd and Jeff Bishop, who, along with a third brother, Alex, founded the Dormie Workshop in 2014. The company is the market leader in producing high-end leather head covers for golf clubs, with production facilities in both Halifax and LA. Golf Digest has recognized the company multiple times as the category leader in its niche. The company has both a wholesale and direct-to-consumer sales channel. Their products are found in many of the most prestigious golf clubs in the world, and the company has deals with Augusta National and the upcoming British Open at St. Andrews next year. The brothers admit the business suits their lifestyles and have ambitions to diversify into clothing for golfers, recently adding a line of high-end belts to their product offerings. This was a fun conversation for us, and we know you will enjoy the brothers’ journey to their current success.

Don and David book launch

Help Wanted: Workforce Crisis in Atlantic Canada

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This week’s Insights Podcast focuses on a recent report prepared by David Campbell for the Public Policy Forum called “Help Wanted: Solving Atlantic Canada’s Growing Labour Challenge”. David is a Fellow with the Public Policy Forum as well as the co-host of the Insights Podcast.  In our conversation, he notes that Atlantic Canada will need more than 440,000 new workers by 2035 to replace those retiring and fill new jobs created by economic growth. He points out that 20% of today’s workforce in the region are 55 years old or more and will most likely be out of the workforce by 2035. More critically, due to low birth rates and an older population, Atlantic Canada does not have the capacity to produce the workers needed for the future. In fact, the shortfall is nearly 270,000 workers who will have to be attracted to the region from elsewhere. It is a crisis that is already evident. We talk about what needs to happen to address this growing problem. 

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Fixing the Leaks: Why Too Many Young Atlantic Canadians Are Falling Behind

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Our guest on this week’s Insights podcast is Lana Asaff, Senior Economist with the Atlantic Economic Council.  Lana stopped by to talk about a new report published by the Council entitled “Fixing the Leaks in Atlantic Canada’s Education-to-Employment Pipeline”.   This conversation was a little unusual for the pod as it got quite animated.  There wasn’t a lot of good news in this report. Lana reported on the many challenges in the K-12 system, from lowering test scores and rising absenteeism to the unpreparedness of many high school students to enter post-secondary education.  Some 40% of university students drop out before finishing their degree. Both Don and David feel very strongly about the need to address the growing challenges in the region’s K-12 education system. Lana also discussed the youth NEET population (not in employment, education or training).  More than 58,000, or 12% of Atlantic Canadians aged 15–29, were NEET during the 2024/2025 school year. Forgone income among NEET aged 20–29 exceeded $470 million regionally in 2024/2025.

This report is a sobering reminder of the challenges and should be a wake-up call for all Atlantic Canadians who care about the region’s future.

Read the full report here:

https://atlanticeconomiccouncil.ca/page/AGPEducationEmploymentPipelineJune2026

Mary Butler

Building New Brunswick’s Future Workforce

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On this week’s Insights podcast, Don and David speak with Mary Butler, President and CEO of the New Brunswick Community College.  The NBCC has six campuses, 1,200 employees, 5,500 full-time students and 13,000 total learners each year.  Enrolment has been rising, and the college boasts a 90 percent graduation rate.  Butler and her team are rethinking the role of college education in New Brunswick, tackling issues such as international skills recognition, strengthening college entry pathways for high school students and embracing artificial intelligence (AI).  As the NEET rate among young New Brunswickers (those Not in Employment, Education and Training) is rising, she sees a golden opportunity for the NBCC. 

Bruce Fawcett 2023

The fastest growing university in Atlantic Canada – Bruce Fawcett, President and Vice-Chancellor of Moncton-based Crandall University

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On this week’s Insights podcast, Don and David speak with Bruce Fawcett, the outgoing President and Vice-Chancellor of Moncton-based Crandall University.  After 14 years at the helm, Fawcett is retiring in August.  During his tenure, Crandall University has increased enrolment from 750 to nearly 2,000 students, eliminated its debt and is building up the university’s endowment funds.  The university has expanded programs and now attracts hundreds of international students every year.

Fawcett reflects on his tenure at Crandall University, the importance of entrepreneurial thinking and the role that Crandall plays in turning out graduates that meet workforce demand across the province.  He estimates 85 percent of international graduates stay in the province.

Jim Keating

Newfoundland & Labrador Equity Stake in Offshore Oil Has Proven Profitable

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Thanks to former Premier Danny Williams, Newfoundland & Labrador has a state-owned oil company. Williams wanted his province not only to benefit from the royalties from offshore oil but to have the benefit of ownership as well.

This led to the creation of the Oil & Gas Corporation of Newfoundland & Labrador (OilCoNL), the Crown corporation that holds equity in three major oil fields, Hebron, White Rose and Hibernia. The company originally began as a division of Nalcor before becoming a Crown corporation in 2019. 

Our podcast this week features a very interesting conversation with Jim Keating, the CEO and employee number one with OilCo, who provided a comprehensive overview of the financial return associated with a state-owned oil company and the enormous opportunity of the province’s offshore oil & gas sector.  The province earned $1.5 billion in royalties from offshore in the last month alone.

The offshore oil sector provides about 20% of the province’s annual GDP. OilCo now has accumulated $1.3 billion in assets as a result of its investments to date and has earned nearly $800 million in dividends since 2010. Keating indicated that Oilco has a legislated right to purchase up to 10% equity in any discovery that leads to a producing well.

The company is expected to take equity in the Bay du Nord project, which is expected to be confirmed in early 2027. Bay du Nord’s initial phase is expected to generate 500-600 barrels of oil over its lifetime and is the first of several phases. There are interesting lessons for Nova Scotia in the success of OilCo as it attempts to restart its offshore oil & gas sector.

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