Taxpayers from so-called have provinces can no longer afford to subsidize the Atlantic provinces
For many years, there has been debate about equalization and other transfer programs and their impact on Atlantic Canada and other regions. Much of this discussion has been technical and difficult to follow. The debate has also been misleading because it focused on equalization even though equalization is only about a quarter of the net…
Encouraging short-term stability at the expense of economic performance and fairness is folly when alternatives are available
In recent years, equalization and other regional subsidies have captured the attention of many Albertans. Much useful research has been done at the University of Calgary and by the former Wildrose Party. There has been extensive comment in Alberta’s media on Canada’s fiscal arrangements, including equalization. Issues connected with regional subsidies are important to all…
Atlantic Canada enjoys a level of public spending that far outreaches that of the provinces that contribute most to equalization payments
It is time for a fundamental course change by Atlantic Canadians with respect to equalization and other regional subsidies. I recently made a presentation to independent senators in Ottawa on this subject in which I said that Canada’s regional subsidies were ineffective. We've had a half-century of remarkably large subsidies to Quebec and Atlantic Canada,…
It’s time to get past political posturing and regional protectionism and reform the national equalization payment program
National debates on the federal equalization program have been marked by conflict, obscure technical jargon, little research on the impact of the program and excessive vitriol. But we get no closer to fixing the problem. It's time for equalization reform. Many Canadians have tuned out. They can’t deal with discussions that have become inaccessible to…
The level of support from other regions of the country has created a dangerous sense of entitlement
By David McKinnon and Marco Navarro-Genie Contributors A time of economic reckoning is at hand for Atlantic Canada. Deficits are growing and threaten to become solvency crises. Regional out-migration has slowed down but continues. Remittances from Western Canada are almost certain to fall rapidly. It is time to consider how to rescue Atlantic Canada from the disastrous…
For many years, there has been debate about equalization and other transfer programs and their impact on Atlantic Canada and other regions. Much of this discussion has been technical and difficult to follow. The debate has also been misleading because it focused on equalization even though equalization is only about a quarter of the net…
