How the Maritimes became Canada’s incredible shrinking region - The Globe and Mail

"After decades of declining fortunes, the Maritime provinces now find themselves trapped in what one observer describes as “a perfect storm” of economic and demographic decline."

Would combing the maritime provinces into one province with 1 government help?

Seems those provinces need to become business friendly and maybe adjust their taxes and provide tax breaks to get companies to move there, but then they are so far away from the bulk of the country that moving there probably doesn't make a ton of sense for most companies.

Good article. Maritimes needs more Brits (and other immigrants)!

I'd move there if their programs were the same as BC, but they just don't have good social programs so we stay in BC.

Yes I see your point. It becomes a bit if a viscous circle for the region, unfortunately. Really they should offer mass refugee status to the many displaced Syrians and Iraquis, supported by Federal dollars. Canada needs to think bigger than it does.

It's a tough situation here. People don't want it to be congested, they love the fact that for the most part it isn't. But that means that less people means higher tax to help pay for everything. If Halifax was to grow that could be the best outcome but it's built on a peninsula so traffic in and out is already awful.
There are some excellent companies here but there needs to be more.
I hope someone strong leads the answer because I love living here.

You call that a peninsula?! In any case, no reason Halifax/Dartmouth couldn't sprawl (well apart from the odd lake which would make a nice upscale community). It's true that people prefer the rural charm, but at the end of the day, if there's too much population and industrial decline, the region becomes less sustainable.

Well, I didn't personally coin the peninsula phrase... It's banded about often.

A peninsula (Latin: paeninsula from paene "almost" and insula "island") is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. The surrounding water is usually understood to belong to a single contiguous body, but is not always explicitly defined as such.

I would say that NS is a peninsula... There is only one way in and out of NS which is a narrow stretch of land...surely that makes it a peninsula

The problem with the maritimes is that the population see themselves as "maritimerers" first and Canadian second. Describing out of towners as "from away" illustrates this perfectly.
In my experience of living there, people are happy with their lot. They dont want growth or change. Which is fine... unless you're waiting for it to happen, because it wont.
There is a harmful union presence in the region which stifles business.
I remember a coffee shop (yes, a coffee shop) being forced to close because his 4 or 5 part time "barristas" were trying to unionise.

My experience is mostly in NS, and the province is doomed in my opinion. Speak to any of the kids in college- most will tell you that they're planning to leave once they graduate.
For those that stay, it's built on a culture of handouts. Fishermen, many earning well in to six figures, still collect Employment Insurance when out of season.

These reasons, and many more, were why I realised it was a massive mistake to move there, and we left in just over 2 years.

I see this culture too but there is more than that here. There is another side that's professional and dynamic and totally the opposite of that culture.

Having some insight in to the efforts for economic development in NS I have to say that there are many companies, both Canadian and foreign who wish to set up shop in NS.
They see the option for government hand outs, forgivable loans and cheap labour. However, despite their efforts the Nova Scotians are for the most part happy with their lot and do not want to see change. So what should be an enthusiastic welcome to these companies turns in to a total lack of interest in what the companies have to offer so they move on to another Province where they are welcomed with open arms. (Before anybody shoots me, trust me I saw it happen time and time again during my time in rural NS from a very trustworthy vantage point).

Could you explain how a handful of workers wanting to be in a union "forces" a coffee shop to close please?

Is it like Walmart stores have been forced to close because workers dared to want to belong to a union?

I'm not aware of the walmart case, so wont comment.

If I remember correctly, the owner couldn't afford the additional cost burden. I believe he closed it down and opened up again under a new name/company.

I agree, and this was my experience also.