The investment landscape of the 21st century has become increasingly inhabited by short-term thinking. Instant messaging, high-speed wireless stock flippers and day-trading speculators who must take their Blackberries to the beach in the summer so as not to miss a minute of the action. In this crazed quest for fast, …

The Business of Water My mailbox is continually bombarded by representatives of the Canadian banks, mutual fund companies, venture capital seekers, stock promoters, spammers, Nigerian businessmen and others, all hyping their product and offering to help me promote their latest hot investment to the general public. This marketing blitz has …

The Business of Water The securities industry in Canada has begun packaging a variety of products that would allow investors to profit from the anticipated growth of companies in the water business. There is little doubt that the private sector has a crucial role to play in solving challenges facing …

The Business of Water ‘Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing’ Oscar Wilde I have never had to carry water home on my head, but I have sucked feverishly on a piece of hose to start it flowing down a hill into my house. This …

Recalling the acrimony that surrounded Wal-Mart’s push into our community a few years ago, I wonder how the citizens of the Comox Valley would respond if a major multinational corporation were to come up with a proposal so controversial that it would dwarf the local Wal-Mart debate by comparison. A …