Get It?

"Did you hear the one about the Finance Minister who believes in Self-Sufficiency but wants the federal government to give him more handouts?"

"Greg Byrne"

A horse walks into a bar and orders a Shirley Temple with a side of self-suffiency. The bartender says, "Hey, you know we don't serve your kind in here". And the horse says, "Greg Byrne".

"Knock-Knock"

"Who's there?"

"Finance Minister who believes in Self-Sufficiency but wants the feds to give him more handouts."

"Finance Minister who believes in Self-Sufficiency but wants the feds to give him more handouts - who?"

"Greg Byrne"

A Priest, a Rabbi, and an Imam are walking in the park and talking about self-sufficiency. The Priest says, "In order to have self-sufficiency you need to have a growing economy". The Rabbi says, "Self-sufficiency means doing more with less and not asking for handouts". And the Imam says, "Greg Byrne".

There once was a Finance Minister from Lincoln,

Who about self-sufficiency was thinkin'.

But more money from the feds,

Was what was in in head,

"Greg Byrne"

** News item: Finance Minister says despite growing economy he doesn't want Ottawa to lower transfer payments to NB.

Economic Advice

Hard to imagine anyone in New Brunswick looking to the NDP government in Nova Scotia to be a role model. But new Premier Darrell Dexter seems to be getting a few things right.

Recently when they rolled out the typical report by an accounting firm stating that "the situation is worse than the last government would admit" (these reports are standard every time the government changes hands) Dexter also established a team of advisers on the economy.

And what a team - NBer Donald Savoie, APEC chair Elizabeth Beale, a former BMO Vice-President and a university economist.

Meanwhile back in New Brunswick - nothing.

No wait, that's not true. In March of this year Premier Graham held the first meeting of the Self-Sufficiency round table - a bi-partisan group of 36 New Brunswickers with the goal of making the province stronger and more prosperous.

The problem - it hasn't met since.

Guess we are going to solve our economic problems using photo-ops and not advice.