Insights with Don Mills and David Campbell- An Acadia Broadcasting Podcast

Hosted by Don Mills & David Campbell

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Episodes

271

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Jun 2026

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About the show

This podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, to promote data-driven decision making among policymakers and to encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region. Expect to hear interviews with the top influencers, business leaders and decision-makers across Atlantic Canada to inform, educate and expand the conversations on the key issues facing the region.

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60 recent

June 11, 2026Episode 2721 hr 0 min

Beyond the Big Four: Accounting Leadership in Atlantic Canada

On this week’s Insights podcast, Don and David are joined by Krista Han, Managing Partner with Doane Grant Thornton in New Brunswick. Globally, the accounting industry is dominated by the 'Big 4' firms: EY, KPMG, Deloitte and PwC, but in Atlantic Canada, Doane Grant Thornton has the largest market share. Krista discusses the major challenges and opportunities facing the firm in Atlantic Canada, as well as the top trends in the accounting sector. We also spent some time on what is keeping Doane Grant Thornton's clients up at night. From finding talented workers to planning for business succession, there is no one better placed than Krista to help us understand what business leaders across Atlantic Canada are thinking.

June 5, 2026Episode 2711 hr 3 min

Atlantic Canada’s $100 Billion Renewable Energy Opportunity

As part of a continuing series of podcasts focused on energy opportunities in Atlantic Canada, our guest on this episode of the Insights Podcast is Matt Campbell, the author of the recent Deloitte Energy White Paper that asks an important question: Is this Atlantic Canada’s energy superpower moment? Matt is the Energy Transformational Leader for Deloitte in Atlantic Canada. In our conversation, Matt outlines the major renewable energy opportunities, including offshore wind and hydrogen gas. He talks about the growing need for a more coordinated regional approach to energy development and for strengthening policy alignment, technology development, and supply chain readiness. He emphasizes the opportunity presented by wind-hydro complementarity, which has already prompted Quebec Power to express interest in Nova Scotia’s offshore wind development. With demand for electricity in Canada expected to double by 2050, Atlantic Canada can become a net exporter of electricity to other parts of the country. We discussed the importance of strengthening national energy security and grid resilience. For anyone following the energy sector, this podcast is a must-listen.

May 29, 2026Episode 2701 hr 0 min

The Strait of Canso Has the Potential to Become a Major Industrial Hub

We were asked to be the keynote speakers at last week's State of the Strait in Port Hawkesbury sponsored by the Strait Area Chamber of Commerce. During our two day visit to the Strait we were able to tour both the Everwind Fuels Marine Terminal, which can store 7.5 million litres of fuel in transit to other destinations, and the Port Hawkesbury Paper Mill, one of only three super calendar paper mills in North America. Everwind is the company pursuing the development of hydrogen gas using onshore wind as a green energy source. The area is already an important industrial hub in Nova Scotia but could become an even more important hub with an industrial strategy to leverage its year round deep, ice free harbour.

May 21, 2026Episode 26955 min

Exclusive Interview with Robert K. Irving - Rebroadcast

In December 2024, Don Mills and David Campbell had a rare and exclusive opportunity to interview Robert K. Irving on the Insights podcast.Mr. Irving passed away on May 19, 2026.This is a re-release of that Insights podcast. In the podcast, the Co-CEO of JD Irving shared information about the companies under his direction, their continued growth, major recent capital investments and succession. Robert, along with his brother Jim Irving, oversaw Midland Trucking, Midland Courier, Irving Tissue and Cavendish Farms, amongst others. They are operated out of a head office in Dieppe and employ more than 2,000 people in the Moncton area alone, including 700 head office jobs. JDI may not be a household name for all Canadians, but it's the largest vertically integrated conglomerate in Atlantic Canada and one of the biggest in Canada, with more than 20,000 employees. This is a surprisingly candid conversation with one of the region's most important yet reticent business leaders, who shared many facts not previously known publicly.

May 14, 2026Episode 2681 hr 0 min

The Power of Partnership: Reimagining Energy in Atlantic Canada

On this week’s Insights podcast, Michelle Robichaud, President of the Atlantica Centre for Energy and Heidi Leslie, CEO of Crux Energy Consulting join Don and David to discuss a new report prepared for the Atlantic Energy Collective. Entitled An Atlantic Canadian Energy Future, the report outlines the state of the energy sector in the region. There are many important energy projects on the drawing board from Gull Island in Labrador to offshore wind in Nova Scotia. Robichaud and Leslie make a compelling case that the region would be better off if there was greater collaboration within Atlantic Canada among governments and energy utilities. From the importance of natural gas to the potential of ‘behind the meter’ electricity production, they go deep but explain things in a way that is relatable to a general audience.

May 8, 2026Episode 2671 hr 1 min

Keeping the Lights On: Inside the Renewable Integration Grid Security Project

On this week’s Insights podcast, we speak with John MacIsaac, President of ProEnergy Global Solutions Canada Ltd. and Brad Coady, Chief Commercial Officer, NB Power, about an important new initiative, the Renewable Integration Grid Security Project (RIGS). In recent years, more of the region’s electricity demand has been supplied by wind, solar and other renewable sources. The challenge is that this electricity is only produced when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. The RIGS project is meant to ensure the grid has enough electricity to meet demand, even on the coldest day in February. RIGS will provide up to 500 MW of electricity as needed, support grid stability in New Brunswick, and provide benefits to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

May 1, 2026Episode 26654 min

NexGold Could Become one of Nova Scotia's Largest Exporters

This episode of the Insights Podcast features an exclusive conversation with veteran miner Kevin Bullock, the CEO of NexGold, the mining company that is close to making a final decision to develop a gold mine near Goldboro in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia. There are 1.15 million ounces of proven and probable gold reserves at the Goldboro site that will be open-pit mined. Based on current reserves, the company expects to mine 100,000 ounces per year for at least 11 years, with the expectation that the mine's life will be considerably longer with further exploration. The construction of the mine will cost between $400 and $450 million, take two years to complete, and create more than 300 direct construction jobs. Once operational, more than 200 full-time employees will work at the mine. At today's gold prices ($4,800 US an ounce), the mine is expected to contribute more than $600 million (in Canadian dollars) to the province's exports over its current expected life span. The company has the financing in place to complete the construction phase and will make a final decision to proceed towards the end of the summer, and may begin construction later this year. The project will generate more than half a billion dollars in tax revenue over its life, with 60% accruing to the provincial government. Mining jobs are high-paying and create many opportunities for local suppliers.

April 23, 2026Episode 26552 min

The Future of Atlantic Canada: Don on Growth, Opportunity, and What Comes Next

We have a special edition of the Insights podcast this week. As many of you will know, Don has been heading up the Atlantic Economic Panel - an initiative that has brought together some of the region's top business leaders and thinkers to develop a roadmap for the future prosperity of the region. Don summarizes the panel's work to date and offers insight into the final report and recommendations. A key theme? We need more ambition at all levels across the region. The next 15-20 years could be a time of great prosperity, but there is still work to be done. There will be enablers (e.g., regulations, tax environment, workforce, population growth, etc.) and specific major economic opportunities (e.g., natural resources, energy, defence, etc.). If you want a sneak peek into the work of the Atlantic Economic Panel, grab a coffee or tea, put on your headphones and carve out 50 minutes of your day.

April 16, 2026Episode 2641 hr 1 min

Marco Group Has Become Atlantic Canada’s Largest Construction Company

The Marco Group was founded in St. John’s, NL, in 1979 by the late Tom Hickman, whose family still retains majority ownership of the company. The company decided to expand into the rest of the region in the early 2000s. That is when Allan MacIntosh, the company’s President, joined the company as a co-owner and set up offices in Halifax. MacIntosh is our guest in this episode of the Insights Podcast and talks about the company’s growth over the past couple of decades. About 60% of the company’s work is now outside of Newfoundland & Labrador. Marco has over 100 employees, with the majority based at its head office in St. John’s. Since its inception, the company has built billions of dollars' worth of buildings across the region. Since moving into the regional market, its revenue has grown from $30 million to $300 million per year. The company often works with major national companies such as PCL and Ellis Don and is involved in long-term care facilities, hospital construction, multi-residential buildings, recreational facilities, and commercial buildings. MacIntosh discusses the challenges of recruiting skilled workers, the opportunity for direct entry into the workplace for those interested in the trades, and the company’s efforts to retain employees.

April 9, 2026Episode 2631 hr 2 min

Marine Renewables Represent an Enormous Opportunity for Atlantic Canada

Our guest this week on the Insights Podcast is Elisa Obermann, the Executive Director of Marine Renewables Canada (MRC), an industry association headquartered in Halifax with more than 200 members. In this podcast, Elisa talks about the various forms of marine renewable energy, including energy from rivers, waves, tides, and offshore wind. The focus of her association is advocacy and the development of a robust supply chain for renewables in Canada. Interestingly, MRC's recent conference attracted more than 700 attendees, underscoring the growing interest in this sector. The biggest opportunity is clearly offshore wind, where MRC has set a goal of 30 GW by 2050. For perspective, Nova Scotia currently uses about 2.3 GWs of electricity annually. Tidal, by contrast, is expected to generate only about 1 GW of electricity over the same time period. It is interesting to note that one offshore turbine will provide electricity to about 15,000 households, while one on-shore turbine will provide electricity to between 2-3,000 households. Obermann discusses what is needed to realize offshore wind's potential, including investment tax credits and transmission infrastructure. It is an excellent overview for those following Premier Houston's Wind West project.