Podcast: Niels Veldhuis On Making Atlantic Canada The Country’s Most Prosperous Region
Atlantic Canada is a “have not” region but Niels Veldhuis of the Fraser Institute says it doesn’t have to be that way.
The president of the public policy research institute – or “think tank” as organizations like this are commonly known – tells Don Mills on the latest episode of Huddle “Insights” that the Atlantic provinces could follow the example of small provinces like Saskatchewan and create better economic climates that could encourage investment and keep its young people from moving to faster-growing, more economically successful regions.
“It’s not as though Atlantic Canada has to do something that’s hugely unique in the world,” Veldhuis tells Mills. “It can look to other jurisdictions that were behind, who were losing young, talented entrepreneurial people to other jurisdictions and learn from those regions and reform … and become beacons of hope and opportunity.”
Veldhuis talks to Mills about how the Fraser Institute’s research and analytical work can help inform discussions about learning from success stories in other regions with similar challenges to Atlantic Canada.
You can listen to their conversation in the player above or on your favourite podcast platform. Search for “Huddle Insights” on platforms like Apple and Spotify, and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there or here.
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.
“Insights” is part of a Huddle podcast network that also features Home Office, hosted by Huddle editor Mark Leger