Atlantic Canada should foster urbanization in order to build the kind of capital-attracting, wealth-creating culture the region needs, says New Brunswick-based academic and writer, Prof. John McLaughlin.
Exciting urban centres would be especially appealing to youth and new immigrants and would make it easier for people to share ideas and expertise, said McLaughlin, shortly after receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award from Startup Canada.
Canada’s population is aging rapidly. About five million Canadians are aged over 65, and the situation is acute in Atlantic Canada. In 2014, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, all recorded more deaths than births, according to Statistics Canada.
Atlantic Canada is also largely rural, leading to scattered communities. But McLaughlin, who recently chaired the panel on the Seniors Agenda for New Brunswick’s Alward Government, said these issues can be addressed and aging is not all negative.
“The boomers are the wealthiest and most engaged group ever to go into retirement. They are healthier than many younger people. They have much to contribute and are a resource to be used,” he said.
“Yes, some want to stay home with their boots on, but there’s a big group in the middle that would love to be part of a new urban movement.”
Vibrant downtowns create opportunities to bring young and old together, he said, a blending that could strengthen the culture of entrepreneurship.
McLaughlin has acquired many roles and awards over his long career. He is a member of both the Order of Canada and the Order of New Brunswick. He has an academic background in engineering and institutional economics and is currently President Emeritus at the University of New Brunswick.
McLaughlin Heads Startup Awards List
He said Canada’s economy is going through a period of deep change, with a need to prioritize new sectors and technologies, many of which focus on the environment, social entrepreneurship and arts and design.
Twenty years ago, when the nation was pushing for improvements in productivity, Atlantic Canada was trying to figure out its place in the country, he said.
“Now, thanks to globalization and new technology, we have as much opportunity to re-imagine the future as the rest of the country. We are all struggling to find our place in the new narrative.”
Atlantic Canadians should be encouraged to see developing countries creating their own narratives, said McLaughlin, who has co-founded two companies and held academic appointments at a dozen universities, including Hong Kong Polytechnic where he is currently an Honorary Professor.
Emerging economies often surprise by not following the paths taken by developed countries.
“Many middle income economies, like China, India, Turkey, and Brazil are doing things in new and different ways,” he said. “They are leapfrogging with technology. For instance, they may go straight to using cellphones and bypass landlines.
“With China, the old assumption was that issues about the environment would have to be parked, that they were a luxury for advanced economies that have reached a certain minimum GDP…But China is moving aggressively and quickly on green energy because they have to. They’re re re-imaging their future, not taking our path.”
McLaughlin said Japan has been wrestling with issues created by its own aging society.
“They’ve been struggling to reboot their economy. They have tried to keep older people in work and offered part-time work. But they have a rigid social and economic system. It might help if they were more flexible.”
Being more flexible in Atlantic Canada means boosting urbanization and fostering growth.
“Fredericton is growing, but not enough development is happening downtown,” McLaughlin said. “It often seems that New Brunswick is a province in transition. We seem to always be having the same conversations…We need to become more open to the world and new ideas.”
