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As legislators prepare for the budget debate, greater Moncton and greater Saint John are demonstrating the dividends that can be produced by strategic public investment.

Modest provincial investments in physician training programs are creating new anchor points for economic development. The benefits extend far beyond the job creation spurred by short-term construction contracts.

These programs exemplify a new type of public infrastructure, in which bricks and mortar play a smaller role than innovation. Each began as a complex partnership between two universities and a regional hospital. Neither could have proceeded without government support. They have the potential to grow into the hub of a provincial life sciences industry, combining medical research with technological advancement and leading-edge instruction.

In Moncton, the partnership between the Georges L. Dumont hospital and Université de Moncton has a created a fertile environment for research. This has been bolstered by the presence of the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute.

Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick's program is bringing new synergies to the Saint John Regional Hospital and UNB Saint John. Provincial investment has supported an additional convergence of interests, through an allied health sciences building which will house community college programs. Officials are exploring the opportunity to create a Maritime clinical trials network. They're also considering establishing a research chair in occupational medicine, which would make the Port City a regional centre for the study of health in relation to work and industry.

Research funding yields a 300- to 700-per-cent return in economic activity. That's the kind of infrastructure investment New Brunswick needs to high-grade its economy.