Never Let A Good Crisis Go To Waste
Adam Peabody is the Director of Planet Hatch, which helps entrepreneurs and startups grow into well-positioned, internationally competitive companies that will contribute to New Brunswick’s economic growth and community prosperity.
2020 presents an unprecedented opportunity for New Brunswickers to raise our expectations of ourselves and tackle major issues holding us back, without delay.
COVID-19 has impacted almost every aspect of our lives- in many ways negative, in many ways positive. Rarely does a society have an opportunity to collectively step back, revaluate, and chart a new and better path. This year should be that inflection point for New Brunswick.
They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. For many, this has been the New Brunswick experience over the past 30 years. We’ve talked a lot about change over the years…. change our politics, change our economy, change our education and our health care systems. On the margins, we’ve made changes and seen some progress. But have we realized the vision of becoming that ‘thriving, have province’ our revered former Premier spoke of in 1987? Most certainly not.
The funny thing is, in many areas we know what we have to do. We just haven’t done it. Our experience during this pandemic has been the rare exception to this rule. Our response should be celebrated and used as a model for success in all areas. We don’t need more round tables or consultation sessions. We need bold leadership and action.
At-home tele-healthcare and craft beer delivery are just two examples of policy changes that just weeks before would have been seen as impossible and met with deep resistance from bureaucrats in Fredericton. We need to replicate rapid implementation of these common-sense changes across every aspect of our regulatory environment.
A cabinet committee with representation from all four party leaders, entrusted with managing the greatest health crisis of our time, would’ve been a laughable notion in February, when temperatures were red-hot over proposed emergency room closures. We need more of this collaboration, extending beyond politics to every aspect of our lives. Leadership that is willing to check egos at the door, change course based on evidence, focused on a better New Brunswick above all.
Before COVID-19, we might’ve been skeptical that we’d see the Prime Minister speak on national television about a New Brunswick-based company that wasn’t named Irving or McCain’s. LuminUltra has deservedly been in the spotlight recently due to their significant contributions to our national recovery efforts. We need more business leaders to raise their sights, backed by the confidence that they can compete on any stage.
In 2020, every New Brunswicker should commit to raising our expectations of our leaders and of ourselves. We should embrace change, not withdraw to the comfort of the way things have always been done. We should aim to compete globally, not just within our local region. We should prioritize collaboration, instead of fighting over an ever-smaller piece of the same pie.
The only thing standing between where we are now and the vision Premier McKenna articulated over 30 years ago, is us. It will take all New Brunswickers pitching in to realize that vision. The last several weeks have brought out the best of New Brunswick: common-sense action, collaboration, and confidence. Perhaps a global pandemic will be the spark that finally lights a fire under all of our behinds to do the hard work required to build a better future. We do have a choice. Let’s not let a good crisis go to waste.
This commentary is sponsored by Ignite Fredericton, a community economic development organization that offers business counselling and tools to help companies start, grow or locate their business.