I attended a MISA International Networking event on May 2, 2007. Booth occupancy at these events in Nova Scotia are usually 70% government and government affiliated non-profit programs (the ‘helpers’), and 30% actual businesses (the people who need help). What’s wrong with this picture?

The guest speaker was the Swiss come-from-away entrepreneur Mr. Hanspeter Stutz, savior of Grand Pre Winery. He had some good insight on seizing opportunities in Nova Scotia, but laid some criticism on the amount of red tape involved in approving business ventures in this province.

This begs the question: in a ‘have-not’ province that is struggling to maintain its tax payers, is excess government interference in private business detrimental to its (speedy) progress?

You can read Hanspeter’s interview at the Halifax Daily News.