Insights with Don Mills and David Campbell- An Acadia Broadcasting Podcast

On this week’s Insights podcast, Michelle Robichaud, President of the Atlantica Centre for Energy and Heidi Leslie, CEO of Crux Energy Consulting join Don and David to discuss a new report prepared for the Atlantic Energy Collective. Entitled An Atlantic Canadian Energy Future, the report outlines the state of the energy sector in the region. There are many important energy projects on the drawing board from Gull Island in Labrador to offshore wind in Nova Scotia.  Robichaud and Leslie make a compelling case that the region would be better off if there was greater collaboration within Atlantic Canada among governments and energy utilities.  From the importance of natural gas to the potential of ‘behind the meter’ electricity production, they go deep but explain things in a way that is relatable to a general audience.

On this week’s Insights podcast, we speak with John MacIsaac, President of ProEnergy Global Solutions Canada Ltd. and Brad Coady, Chief Commercial Officer, NB Power, about an important new initiative, the Renewable Integration Grid Security Project (RIGS).  In recent years, more of the region’s electricity demand has been supplied by wind, solar and other renewable sources. The challenge is that this electricity is only produced when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining.  The RIGS project is meant to ensure the grid has enough electricity to meet demand, even on the coldest day in February.  RIGS will provide up to 500 MW of electricity as needed, support grid stability in New Brunswick, and provide benefits to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. 

This episode of the Insights Podcast features an exclusive conversation with veteran miner Kevin Bullock, the CEO of NexGold, the mining company that is close to making a final decision to develop a gold mine near Goldboro in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia. There are 1.15 million ounces of proven and probable gold reserves at the Goldboro site that will be open-pit mined. Based on current reserves, the company expects to mine 100,000 ounces per year for at least 11 years, with the expectation that the mine's life will be considerably longer with further exploration. The construction of the mine will cost between $400 and $450 million, take two years to complete, and create more than 300 direct construction jobs. Once operational, more than 200 full-time employees will work at the mine. At today's gold prices ($4,800 US an ounce), the mine is expected to contribute more than $600 million (in Canadian dollars) to the province's exports over its current expected life span. The company has the financing in place to complete the construction phase and will make a final decision to proceed towards the end of the summer, and may begin construction later this year. The project will generate more than half a billion dollars in tax revenue over its life, with 60% accruing to the provincial government. Mining jobs are high-paying and create many opportunities for local suppliers.

We have a special edition of the Insights podcast this week.   As many of you will know, Don has been heading up the Atlantic Economic Panel - an initiative that has brought together some of the region's top business leaders and thinkers to develop a roadmap for the future prosperity of the region.  Don summarizes the panel's work to date and offers insight into the final report and recommendations.  A key theme?  We need more ambition at all levels across the region.  The next 15-20 years could be a time of great prosperity, but there is still work to be done.  There will be enablers (e.g., regulations, tax environment, workforce, population growth, etc.) and specific major economic opportunities (e.g., natural resources, energy, defence, etc.).  If you want a sneak peek into the work of the Atlantic Economic Panel, grab a coffee or tea, put on your headphones and carve out 50 minutes of your day.

The Marco Group was founded in St. John’s, NL, in 1979 by the late Tom Hickman, whose family still retains majority ownership of the company. The company decided to expand into the rest of the region in the early 2000s. That is when Allan MacIntosh, the company’s President, joined the company as a co-owner and set up offices in Halifax. MacIntosh is our guest in this episode of the Insights Podcast and talks about the company’s growth over the past couple of decades. About 60% of the company’s work is now outside of Newfoundland & Labrador. Marco has over 100 employees, with the majority based at its head office in St. John’s. Since its inception, the company has built billions of dollars' worth of buildings across the region. Since moving into the regional market, its revenue has grown from $30 million to $300 million per year. The company often works with major national companies such as PCL and Ellis Don and is involved in long-term care facilities, hospital construction, multi-residential buildings, recreational facilities, and commercial buildings. MacIntosh discusses the challenges of recruiting skilled workers, the opportunity for direct entry into the workplace for those interested in the trades, and the company’s efforts to retain employees.

Our guest this week on the Insights Podcast is Elisa Obermann, the Executive Director of Marine Renewables Canada (MRC), an industry association headquartered in Halifax with more than 200 members. In this podcast, Elisa talks about the various forms of marine renewable energy, including energy from rivers, waves, tides, and offshore wind. The focus of her association is advocacy and the development of a robust supply chain for renewables in Canada. Interestingly, MRC's recent conference attracted more than 700 attendees, underscoring the growing interest in this sector. The biggest opportunity is clearly offshore wind, where MRC has set a goal of 30 GW by 2050. For perspective, Nova Scotia currently uses about 2.3 GWs of electricity annually. Tidal, by contrast, is expected to generate only about 1 GW of electricity over the same time period. It is interesting to note that one offshore turbine will provide electricity to about 15,000 households, while one on-shore turbine will provide electricity to between 2-3,000 households. Obermann discusses what is needed to realize offshore wind's potential, including investment tax credits and transmission infrastructure. It is an excellent overview for those following Premier Houston's Wind West project.

This week on the Insights Podcast, we’re joined by Gregg Curwin, President & CEO of Nova Scotia–based Novagevity. Gregg is a proven agriculture entrepreneur and the founder of TruLeaf Sustainable Agriculture, now Canada’s largest indoor vertical farming company.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.

Our guest on this episode of the Insights Podcast is Jason Limongelli, Vice President, Woodlands Division with JD Irving, Limited. The forest products industry is the most important driver of economic activity in New Brunswick, generating nearly a billion dollars in tax and royalty revenue in 2024 and supporting one out of every 17 jobs in the province. Despite its importance, most people don’t really understand how it works. How many trees get cut down every year? How long does it take for a tree to reach full maturity? How many trees are planted each year? What does it mean to manage a Crown Land license? Jason answers all these questions and more. He also tells us about JDI. Known in New Brunswick as one of the largest companies in the province, it turns out the company competes with much larger global firms when selling its wood and paper products. Jason explains how JDI competes with these industrial behemoths. Finally, we chat about the future of the industry and having a +50-year business plan. 

Our guest on this episode of the Insights Podcast is Marie Mullally, the CEO of CUA. CUA is one of the largest credit unions in Atlantic Canada. There are more than 300,000 credit union members in Atlantic Canada. Credit unions have their roots in small communities. In the case of CUA, it started as a credit union for dockyard workers in Halifax, growing to $1.2 billion in assets under management and offering most, if not all, of the services of the major banks in Canada. Credit unions are cooperatives, owned by their members and serving those members as customers. Mullally provides an excellent overview of the advantages and limitations of being much smaller than banks while still offering the same suite of services. It is an interesting look at a unique segment of Canada's financial services market and is highly educational.

Our guest on this week’s episode of the Insights Podcast is Dallas McCready, President & CEO of Atlantic Lottery Corporation.  Atlantic Lottery is a collaboration between the four Atlantic Provinces that provides gaming services across the region.  Dallas discusses the organization’s mandate and economic impact as it celebrates 50 years in operation.  He also discusses the lottery’s expansion into online gaming and sports betting, and how to ensure responsible gaming is maintained in the virtual world.  

Our podcast this week features an educational conversation with Dr. Moez Rajwani, the Executive Officer for the Aga Khan Council in Canada representing the interests of the Ismalili community across the country. There are between 100 and 125,000 Ismailis living in Canada. They are part of the Shia Muslim community that follow the Aga Khan as their Iman, the hereditary leader of the Ismailis,and  their spiritual leader. There are between 12-15 million Ismailis in the world. The Ismaili community has had a focus on Atlantic Canada in recent years and has held two Atlantic Canada Trade Mission Forums with their communities in Toronto and Vancouver in the last six months or so to highlight the investment opportunities in our region. These forums were well attended and generated significant interest in Atlantic Canada. The alignment of the values of Atlantic Canada to those of the Ismaili community is well recognized by the Aga Khan Council and one of the key reasons for interest in our region.. The Council is also focussed on developing a bigger community of Ismailis in the region and is currently working to bring refugee families to our region and has a well developed strategy to support those resettlement efforts by ensuring access to affordable housing, healthcare, language training as well as assisting in the integration into the local community. These efforts contribute to higher retention rates.

This episode of the Insights Podcast is another in our bioeconomy series, sponsored by the Greenspring Bioinnovation Hub and Bioindustrial Innovation Canada, and features a conversation with Andrew Parsons, the Project Director at Nova Sustainable Fuels, a company owned by UK-based Octopus Energy. His company has been quietly working in Nova Scotia since 2021 on a project to build a production facility in Guysborough County near Goldsboro that would convert biomass, such as wood chips and sawdust, into sustainable aviation fuel (saf). It is a big idea that would require 750,000 tons of biomass to produce 165,000 tons of aviation fuel and would be a major boost to the forestry industry, which has struggled for a market for biomass since the closure of Northern Pulp, which consumed 1.3 million tons of biomass annually until its closure.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.

Our guest on this week’s episode of the Insights Podcast is Nathan Ough, President and CEO of Texas-based VoltaGrid.   Born and raised in Saint John, Ough is now looking to put a large-scale data centre in the port city, bringing several hundred high-paying jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue to the city and provincial government. A partnership with Beacon AI Centres, the $2+ billion project involves an innovative ‘behind the meter’ approach to meeting the large electricity needs of the data centre.  Ough claims the project will have no negative impacts on the province’s electricity grid or the city’s water supply.  Data centres are among the fastest-growing industries across North America, as they are necessary to provide the computing power and storage for the emerging artificial intelligence boom. Will Saint John be at the front end of this industry in Canada? Download and listen to our conversation with Nathan Ough to find out.

Former New Brunswick Premier and UNI Financial CEO Camille Thériault joins the Insights Podcast to discuss leadership, grassroots politics, and economic growth. From the 1987 Liberal sweep to transforming UNI Financial, Thériault shares lessons on succeeding in public life and the importance of investing in tourism and community development. 

In this episode of the Insights Podcast, we take a close look at the book publishing business, that continues to thrive in Atlantic Canada despite the naysayers who think book reading may be in decline. Terrilee Bulger is a lifelong bibliophile who began her interest in books working in a bookstore while in high school, before eventually joining Nimbus Publishing in 2004 eventually becoming a co-owner and the General Manager of the company with Deborah Fagan after purchasing the company from John Marshall in 2012. The company, established in 1978, is nearly its fiftieth anniversary and publishes between 35 and 45 titles annually and has published more than 2,000 books over its long history. Nimbus has been an important contributor to the culture life in the region. It also established Vagrant Press in 2005 which specializes in books of fiction. In this podcast, we learn about the process of getting a book published, the financial aspects of book publishing and how Nimbus markets the books it publishes. Nimbus also provides distribution services for a number of its competitors in Atlantic Canada. Interesting story. Enjoy!

We have a very special guest on this week's Insights podcast.  Don and David are joined by Aldéa Landry to talk about her long career and legacy.  Aldéa was born in Sainte-Cécile, a small village in the Acadian Peninsula.  She showed early flashes of ambition at a young age and the support of Sister Dorothy at the local Catholic school was key to unlocking her potential.  After a successful early career as lawyer and civil servant, she was part of Frank McKenna's Young Guns that swept into office in 1987. After holding multiple cabinet roles in that government, Aldéa went on to have a highly successful career in New Brunswick as a business owner, corporate leader, mentor and champion for Acadie and Francophone New Brunswickers.  At 80, she tells Don and David about her new five-year plan that will guide her career into the future.  Download to listen to a great conversation with one of the most important New Brunswickers of the last 50 years. 

Cherubini Metal Works was founded in 1967 by two brothers, John and Jack Cherubini, originally from Italy. The company began as an ornamental railing fabricator and was acquired in 1972 by Renato and Danilo Gasparetto, who remain the business's owners today. Over time, the company has grown to become the largest structured steel fabricator in Atlantic Canada, with 600 employees (70 percent of whom are immigrants or refugees), and a number of other businesses in its group, including Burnside Truck Repair, Classic Freight, R & D Cranes, and Progressive Cabinets. The company is one of only three bridge builders in Canada and has worked across Canada and the US, and has been involved with both the "Big Lift" MacDonald Bridge project and PEI's Confederation Bridge in Atlantic Canada. 

On this week’s Insights podcast, we are continuing our series of conversations with the region’s premiers.  Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Lantz joins Don and David to talk about his whirlwind introduction to provincial leadership.  (This podcast was recorded before Lantz stepped down as PEI's Premier in December of 2025 to run for the PC party's permanent leadership)  On the job for only 10 months, Lantz has faced a number of challenging files, as well as being appointed Chair of the Council of the Federation (COF), the group that speaks for the provinces and territories. The conversation ranges from the decline in population growth and in international student numbers to his government’s efforts to boost housing development and public service access.  Lantz provides insight into new economic development opportunities and his concerns related to trade with the United States.  His government has made record investments into infrastructure, including the new Faculty of Medicine at UPEI.  At the end of our conversation, we asked him about his political future. Listen to the podcast if you want to know his response.

On Insights with Don Mills and David Campbell, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt shares a candid year‑one report and her blueprint to grow the province’s economy. We dig into the new Growth Office—designed to coordinate opportunities across multiple departments—and the province’s critical minerals development plan, a pillar of NB’s emerging industrial strategy. 

This standout episode of the Insights Podcast takes you inside Nova Scotia’s ambitious plan to become a global energy leader. Premier Tim Houston shares his vision for transforming the province through offshore wind development—including the groundbreaking Wind West project, poised to supply over 25% of Canada’s electricity needs.You’ll also hear candid insights on:Unlocking offshore and onshore natural gas potentialStrategic mining opportunities fueling economic growthRegulatory reforms to accelerate progressBreaking down interprovincial trade barriersManaging fiscal challenges amid rising deficitsIf 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!

Discover how a family-owned Nova Scotia company powers the world. On this episode of Insights, Don and David talk with Jeff Myles of Surrette Battery—Canada’s leading deep-cycle battery maker with customers in 40+ countries. Hear how Surrette is evolving from lead-acid to lithium and thriving in a rural community while planning for global growth.

Discover how Freeman Lumber—a family-owned sawmill since 1832—is reinventing rural development in Atlantic Canada. In this episode, COO Marcus Zwicker and CFO Georg Ernst share insights on tariffs, export diversification, Crown land harvesting, and innovative uses for biomass. Learn how this resilient company, which has weathered hurricanes and fires, is investing millions and leveraging AI to build a world-class mill. A must-listen for anyone interested in natural resources, sustainability, and economic growth in rural communities.

In this week's Insights Podcast, our guest is Courtney Sherlock, the Co-Founder & CEO of the Halifax Tides FC, one of the six inaugural teams in the Northern Super League, the newly formed professional women's soccer league. The Tides just completed their first season, and while their on-field performance did not secure them a playoff position, by every other measure, it was a highly successful first season. Attendance for the Tide games was among the highest in the league, averaging about 4,000 per game, and the team secured 2,000 season ticket holders out of the gate. The team had strong local sponsorship and merchandise sales, and the league benefited from a national television deal with both TSN and CBC Sports that broadcast a package of games in the first year of an initial two-year contract. In this podcast, Sherlock talks about her entrepreneurial journey building the Valley Veterinarian Group into six hospitals over a relatively short period of time, before selling to a national consolidator and then finding herself as the majority owner of the Tides. It is an exciting journey into professional sports for Sherlock, who admits her only previous exposure to soccer was as a soccer mom. Enjoy! 

 his week on Insights, Don and David sit down with Pierre Zundel, President and CEO of Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB), to explore how this French-language college network is shaping New Brunswick’s economy. From training talent for health care and construction to supporting research and rural development, CCNB is a key driver of growth. Hear how international students, housing challenges, and industry partnerships are influencing the province’s future—and why CCNB matters more than ever. 

 Discover why Nova Scotia is leading the solar revolution in Atlantic Canada. In this episode of Insights Podcast, we sit down with David Brushett, Chair of Solar Nova Scotia and Manager of Energy Management Services at Efficiency One, to explore the province’s rapid growth in solar adoption. From 13,000 residential installations to commercial projects making up 35% of the market, Nova Scotia now accounts for 75% of all solar energy in the region. We also dive into cutting-edge battery research at Dalhousie University, Tesla’s involvement, and what it means for the future of renewable energy. Plus, learn why solar is projected to hit 1 GW by 2035 and how the upcoming Solar Summit in Halifax will shape the industry. If you care about clean energy, innovation, and sustainability, this episode is a must-listen. 

Discover the remarkable story of David Ganong, one of New Brunswick’s most influential business leaders. In this episode of Insights, we dive into his five decades of leadership at Ganong Bros., Canada’s oldest candy company. Hear how David guided the company through international expansion, innovative product development, and the unique challenges of being the largest employer in a small town.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.

Join Don and David as they speak with Victoria Belbin, CEO of ACADA, about Atlantic Canada’s booming aerospace and defence sector. With over 11,000 jobs and $1.25B in GDP, the region is home to major players like Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Irving Shipbuilding, plus emerging defence tech firms.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.

This week's episode of the Insights Podcast features a candid, wide-ranging conversation with Andy Fillmore, who recently celebrated one year in the job of Mayor of Halifax. He talks about the challenges of delivering on the mandate he was elected on with the current council governance format and the weak mayor powers. There have been few past mayors elected who have had the kind of relevant experience that Fillmore brings to the job. He was the first urban planner hired by the municipality after spending more than a decade in the US doing urban planning. While at the municipality, he led HRM by Design, the blueprint for the city's development. He was also the Vice President of the Waterfront Development Corporation and played a leading role in the plan to develop what is now Halifax's extraordinary waterfront. He served for nine years as Halifax's MP, during which he transformed Halifax from among the lowest recipients of federal investment to one of the highest, helping attract NATO's DIANA to Halifax and opening up Georges Island to tourism. He brings ambition and big-picture thinking to the job. He has a focus on housing & homelessness, affordability, transit & congestion, urban growth & planning. And he offers his views on the current debate about bike lanes. Don't miss this conversation.

In this episode of the Insights Podcast, we sit down with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston to explore the province’s bold energy ambitions. Premier Houston shares his vision for transforming Nova Scotia into a leading energy producer through offshore wind development—highlighting the Wind West project, which could supply over 25% of Canada’s electricity needs.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.

 In this episode of the Insights Podcast, we sit down with Ramsay Duff, CEO of MacLeod Group, to explore how this Antigonish-based company is reshaping long-term care across the Maritimes. With 14 facilities, over 1,400 employees, and a strategic focus on smaller communities, MacLeod Cares is addressing a critical shortage of 6,000 beds in the region. Duff shares insights on expansion plans, workforce challenges, and why demand for long-term care won’t peak until 2042. Whether you're in healthcare, policy, or business, this episode offers a powerful look at the future of elder care in Atlantic Canada. 

 Discover the extraordinary journey of Barb Stegemann, a Canadian changemaker who turned a mission of peace into a multimillion-dollar fragrance brand. In this episode, Barb shares how her pitch on Dragons’ Den led to a life-changing investment, how she empowers farmers in war-torn countries through ethical sourcing, and how she became the first Canadian perfumer in Sephora, now selling in over 2,000 stores across 19 countries. With her bestselling book The 7 Virtues of a Philosopher Queen, a new Atelier in Halifax, and plans to double her business, Barb’s story is a masterclass in purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Tune in for powerful insights, unforgettable storytelling, and a behind-the-scenes look at her upcoming return to Dragons’ Den—this time as a guest dragon. 

In this episode, Don Mills moderates the final plenary panel at the ACG Atlantic Network Conference, a premier event focused on investment opportunities in Atlantic Canada. With over 200 investors from across Atlantic Canada, Central Canada, and the U.S. in attendance, this dynamic conversation explores the region’s economic transformation and future growth.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 innovationEconomic clusters and regional collaborationCapital attraction and investment strategyBuilding a prosperous future for Atlantic CanadaWhether you're an investor, entrepreneur, policymaker, or economic development professional, this episode offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of Atlantic Canada's economy.

This week on Our Insights Podcast, we sit down with Lori Clark, the first-ever female CEO of NB Power, to explore the future of energy in New Brunswick. Appointed in July 2022, Clark brings nearly 30 years of experience within the utility to a leadership role marked by major infrastructure and sustainability challenges.🔊 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.

This special Insights podcast is the last of a three-part series of interviews with exciting entrepreneurs building bioeconomy companies in Atlantic Canada.  You will find the first two interviews with Vyterra Renewables Inc. and Oberland Agriscience in the Insights podcast feed.  This series is sponsored by Greenspring Bioinnovation Hub and Bioindustrial Innovation Canada.  This week we talk with Mark Masotti and his exciting new company, alterBiota.  Mark ‘fell in love’ with anaerobic digestion and has a new technology that uses wood byproducts to create a product that strengthens concrete and at the same time reduces its carbon footprint.  The Verschuren Centre in Cape Breton lured Masotti from Toronto and he raves about the support he received after arriving.  He believes Nova Scotia is an excellent place to build a successful bioeconomy company and he tells us all the reasons why in this podcast. 

On this week's Insights podcast, David speaks with Matt Symes about the potential of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in our region.  Matt is a leading strategic thinker in our region, helping firms and organizations, and has integrated A.I. into his consulting practice.  We discuss practical ways to use A.I. in health care, education, business services and even construction.  We also discuss how government policy could support wider adoption of this transformative new technology.

This episode of the Insights Podcast features an interesting conversation with Mike Cassidy, the CEO of the Cassidy Group which owns Coach Atlantic, Maritime Bus and T3 Transit. The Cassidy Group is the largest family-owned motorcoach company in Canada and has more than 250 pieces of equipment in its fleet of buses and more than 800 employees. Coach Atlantic is a dominant player in the chartered bus sector in the region, while Maritime Bus provides regularly scheduled bus service on 14 routes to 40 communities across the three Maritime Provinces. If you noticed any of Coach Atlantic or Maritime Buses, the fleet is virtually new, with most buses in their fleet being less than five years old. This is part of the company's strategies to manage capital efficiently. To that end, in 2024, Cassidy committed to buying 100 buses from Prevost, the Quebec based bus manufacturer. The cost of each bus today is $800,000. Cassidy also serves the cruise ship business in both Charlottetown and Halifax, has interests in agriculture through Van Kampen Nurseries and real estate development in Charlottetown. His entrepreneurial story is very interesting as a Halifax born, Saint Mary's graduate who began his career as a chartered accountant in PEI. Enjoy! 

This week on the Insights podcast,  Don and David spoke with Dr. Wendy Rodgers, the President and Vice-Chancellor at University of Prince Edward Island.  Dr. Rodgers discusses the important role the university plays in the Island economy as well as the direction of the new strategic plan.  She talks about the federal changes to international student attraction and how that damaged Canada's brand as a destination for international education.  UPEI has a new Faculty of Medicine and other interesting initiatives underway.   To get a good primer on UPEI and its future listen to this week's Insights episode.

Our guest on this episode of the Insights Podcast is Mike Whittaker, until recently the CEO and Co-Owner of TruCorp. TruCorp is the Truro based holding company that was owned by Mike and his partner Bill Hay until he sold his shares. Trucorp had two main holdings Bonte Foods, the federally certified meat manufacturer in Dieppe and Grinner's Food Systems, which owns Greco Pizza, as well as Captain Submarine and Frozu Frozen Yogurt. Mike has an interesting personal story, joining Trucorp as a marketing specialist, before over time becoming a 33 percent equity owner of the company. Under his leadership, Greco Pizza grew from less than ten outlets to 120 outlets around Atlantic Canada and became the number one pizza brand in the region with annual sales of over $50 million and more than a thousand employees. He introduced Grecoville and the thirty minute delivery promise and the memorable marketing tagline "Greco 310-30-30" that is still being used thirty years after its introduction. At the same time, Mike helped expand Bonte Foods through the acquisition of the Chris Brothers brand of deli meats. TruCorp sold its interest in Bonte in 2020 and Mike sold his equity in TruCorp a couple of years ago. It is a fascinating story of business success that is mostly unknown. Enjoy!

On this week's Insights Podcast, veteran oil & gas executive, Jim Livingstone, the CEO of RC Energy makes a compelling case for the development of the onshore natural gas in the three Maritime Provinces, which combined have estimated reserves of more than 200 TCF (Trillion Cubic Feet), the equivalent of the natural gas in the  Permian Basin in West Texas, considered one of the most prolific gas producing regions in the US. One TCF is enough natural gas to heat all the houses in Canada that currently use natural gas for two years. It could also be used to develop an LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) sector in our region, replacing the natural gas currently being imported. Livingstone has developed a drilling methodology that does not use hydrofracking to drill for shale gas. His method is based on using air to extract the gas and eliminates many of the concerns associated with hydrofracking. He insists that the type of shale basin in our region, derived from ancient lakes rather than most shale basins elsewhere, which are derived from ancient oceans, results in a much more densely compacted clay content, making it less suitable for hydrofracking. He claims it is one of the reasons previous drilling programs have failed in New Brunswick. This conversation is fascinating and could potentially lead to unlocking over $400 billion worth of natural gas in the Maritimes, thereby removing opposition to natural gas development in our region. 

On this week's Insights podcast, Don and David speak with Mark Gaddas, owner and President of Woodstock, New Brunswick-based Ironwood Manufactured Homes Inc.  The company recently announced a large-scale expansion to help it meet the demand for housing in New Brunswick, Maine and beyond.  Mark tells us his new facility will be the largest manufacturing plant in Woodstock.  We discuss the role of manufactured housing in addressing housing demand, the challenges of recruiting staff in small towns, and the regulatory barriers impacting the sector.   As a share of GDP, New Brunswick has the largest manufactured housing sector among the 10 provinces in Canada.   The Ironwood expansion and other developments point to this being a potential growth sector for the province in the years ahead.

On this week’s Insights podcast, Don and David speak with Tom Taylor, Executive Director of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association, about the state of finfish aquaculture in the region.  The industry is a significant engine for mostly rural areas in the region, supporting over 8,000 jobs and boosting gross domestic product (GDP) by over $900 million.  Over 1,300 suppliers generate $600-$700 million worth of business each year from the aquaculture sector.  Tom tells us about the history of the industry, dating back to government-led research in the 1970s, to the exciting innovation happening right now in our region.  Despite being one of the best ways to produce sustainable and healthy meat protein, the finfish aquaculture is having to fend off a considerable amount of misinformation.  Tom discusses this risk and the efforts his association is taking to counter misleading, inaccurate and outright falsehoods about the industry.

This week's Insights podcast addresses the challenge of growing crime across Atlantic Canada. This is a concern among business owners and the general public in all four provinces.  To talk about this issue, Don and David are joined by Mike Hammoud, Vice-President, Atlantic Canada at the Convenience Industry Council of Canada and Danny Fournier, Senior Manager with Rothmans, Benson and Hedges Canada’s (RBH) department of Illicit Trade Prevention (ITP).  Mike and Danny discuss trends that could be driving the increase in crime, such as the cost of living, the mental health crisis, expanded drug use and the growing presence of organized crime in our region. More importantly, the conversation focuses on solutions.  We need expanded public education, a stronger focus on prevention, better use of technology, and mobilization of communities through groups such as Crimestoppers and Neighbourhood Watch.  Importantly, our police services need the resources to focus upstream before the 911 call is ever made.  Better prevention and deterrents should lead to a decrease in crime across our region. This is an important conversation. 

On today's Insights podcast, Don and David talk with well-known author and Globe and Mail journalist John Ibbitson.   The wide-ranging discussion covers his two recent books, as well as his thoughts on everything from demographic trends and interprovincial trade.  In The Duel: Diefenbaker, Pearson and the Making of Modern Canada, he makes a compelling case that Diefenbaker should rank higher on the list of Canadian Prime Ministers.  In A Nation's Paper: The Globe and Mail in the Life of Canada, Ibbitson curates 30 essays from Globe writers on the role the newspaper has played at important times in Canada’s history. He has a new book coming out in the Fall with Darrell Bricker called "Breaking Point: The New Big Shifts Putting Canada at Risk." Ibbitson is a fairly rare breed among national writers and commentators in that he has deep knowledge of the Atlantic Canada population and economy.  We discuss immigration, Employment Insurance, trade and other topics with a focus on Atlantic Canada.

Monette Pasher, President of the Canadian Airports Council, joins Don and David on the Insights podcast this week to talk about the council’s new report called “Keeping Canada Connected: The Challenge of Regional Air Service and Federal Policy”.  The transfer of airport management in Canada from the federal government to local authorities in the 1990s is considered by many to be an excellent example of good public policy. However, over the past decade or so, there has been an increasing erosion of services and connectivity between smaller airports and their surrounding communities. The new CAC report finds that flight frequency at regional airports has decreased by 36% since 2014 – a trend exacerbated by the pandemic. Pasher believes that more of the $500 million in rent that airports pay the federal government every year should be allocated to an “Essential Air Service program”, similar to a program in the United States.  We talk about a range of issues, from the rationale behind the transfer 30 years ago to the role of provincial and municipal governments in ensuring regional air connectivity.

We spent the month of June on a tour around the region to promote our newly published book, "Toward Prosperity: The Transformation of Atlantic Canada's Economy." The reception has been very gratifying, and the early reviews have been very favourable. Among those stops was the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton, where their high-energy CEO, Kim Wilson, moderated a lively discussion about the book with us, covering the main themes of the book and why we are so bullish on the future of Atlantic Canada. We wanted to share that conversation with you.  You can purchase the book at local bookstores, Indigo, Amazon and even Costco. Enjoy! 

This week's Insights Podcast is the second of three in our special series on the bioeconomy sponsored by the Greenspring Bioinnovation Lab and BioIndustrial Innovation Canada and features a very interesting conversation with Greg Wanger, the Founder & CEO of Oberland Agriscience. Oberland has a brand new 100,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Ragged Lake that is nearing completion that uses Black Soldier flies to produce fertilizer for the agricultural sector and feed for the pet food market and the aquaculture and farming sectors. The plant when fully operational will divert 100 tons of organic waste from landfills on a daily basis to feed the Black Soldier flies to produce 20 tons of fertilizer and 20 tons of feed protein per day. Prior to forming Oberland, Wanger worked with the Jet Propulsion Lab in California and helped develop equipment for the Mars Rover. The company is proud to introduce the lowest carbon-footprint protein ingredient to the market and expects to be totally off the grid and using only renewable power in the near future. Wanger is just getting going and plans more manufacturing facilities in the future.

On this week’s Insights podcast, Don and David speak with Dr. Trevor Tombe, Professor in the University of Calgary’s Department of Economics and Director of Fiscal and Economic Policy at the School of Public Policy.  Dr. Tombe has published a number of papers related to interprovincial trade barriers including a recent one for the Public Policy Forum specifically covering the benefits to Atlantic Canada from making it easier to trade across provincial borders.  We discuss a variety of barriers to provincial trade including rules and regulations, and we go deeper with a lively discussion of issues such as government subsidies to industry, provincial tax rate differentials, infrastructure investments and other government-related benefits that may provide advantages to industries in one province but not another.   This one got a little wonky but we are sure you will enjoy the conversation.

This episode of the Insights Podcast was live recorded at the recent Biocon Conference held in Saint John, New Brunswick. This was the thirteenth annual conference for this sector. The podcast features a conversation with David and Don that was moderated by Meaghan Seagrave, the Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada, an organization that provides critical strategic investment, advice and services to business developers of clean, green and sustainable technologies. There are many new companies in the bioeconomy that are leading the way, including Vyterra Renewals which was the focus of a recent podcast and Oberland Agriscience which will be a future podcast. Vyterra turns wood into fuel and Oberland turns insects into feed and fertilizer. This podcast focuses on the opportunities and challenges facing the bioeconomy sector and what needs to be done to accelerate its growth.

Dennis Campbell, the Founder of Ambassatours, first became interested in the tour business at the age of seven years ago when he accompanied one of his sister's guided tours and started his company in 1987 while still in high school. At its peak, the company had annual revenues of $30 million and employed nearly eight hundred people,100 buses and served 19-21 ports. Last year the company had 450,000 customers using the company's various land, water and amphibious tours. In this podcast, Dennis takes us on his personal business journey as he built his company, including some of the early challenges financing its growth, eventually selling off parts of his business as he begins winding down his long successful career. From the Harbour Hopper to double decker buses, the Silva, Harbour Queen, Theodore Tugboat, and the Magic Winery Tours, there is a very good chance listeners will have been on one of Dennis's tours. His role in the development of the hospitality sector within the region cannot be overstated. He is the consummate storyteller as you will see from this conversation.

This week's Insights Podcast is the first in our sponsored BioEconomy Series over the next three months in partnership with the Greenspring BioInnovation Hub and Bioindustrial Innovation Canada and features a conversation with JC Amado, Chief Development Officer with Vyterra Renewals and Cassie Turple, member of the third generation of family owners of Ledwidge Lumber about their interesting collaboration that will see the construction of a 40 million litre plant on Ledwidge's property using Vyterra's proprietary Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) technology and the wood by products from Ledwidge's operations to convert wood into low carbon fuel. The plant will cost $200 million to build and is expected to be operational by the end of 2027 and will use the feedstock of 2-3 sawmills in the province, which lost a significant customer for their products with the closure of Northern Pulp. If successful, Vyterra's has hopes of building two other similar plants in the province.