Adopting the Alberta charter school model would give parents and children more choice and allow them to enjoy the benefits of competition
Canadians experience the enormous economic benefits of competition daily. For most consumer goods, over time, Canadians pay less and get more. Businesses compete to offer customers the best products at the lowest prices; those with offerings that consumers judge unsatisfactory are eventually forced to go out of business. As long as there’s competition, consumers are…
P.E.I. has added itself to the list of carbon tax opponents, following Premier Doug Ford of Ontario. And the list is growing
If there ever was a federal carbon tax consensus in Canada, it's now dissolving. Rumours of its death have been floating for some time, but the recent Prince Edward Island announcement rejecting it has the feel of an unofficial invitation to its wake. Did the smallest provincial jurisdiction in the country kill Prime Minister Justin…
The tax will slow the already-faltering New Brunswick economy and create a competitive disadvantage with U.S. businesses
While good intentions matter a great deal, results matter most. The federal government’s decision to impose a national carbon tax may be well-intentioned, but its effects may be detrimental to our economy. We’ll likely see its worst effects on New Brunswick. The idea is to give carbon a price. While there are a few ways…
It’s time to focus on preserving public safety while permitting a market system to thrive through the entire supply chain, from producer to consumer
By Alex Whalen and Ian Madsen Contributors In October 2012, Gerard Comeau left his home in Tracadie, N.B, and drove to Quebec to buy alcohol. Comeau, a retired power lineman, knew he could buy the same alcohol for less in Quebec. However, upon returning to New Brunswick, Comeau was stopped by the RCMP and charged…
Ottawa’s plan is confiscatory and destructive for a region where everyone already pays far too much in tax
Imagine for a moment you live in Saint John, or Halifax or any other city, town or hamlet in Atlantic Canada. For years, you resisted the temptation to advise your children and grandchildren to move away from the region, even though opportunities, jobs and decent incomes are in short supply. Nevertheless, you long encouraged your…
Lobster is so popular these days, McDonald's ditched its McLobster due to higher prices. Still, things are looking up for the 'chicken of the sea'
Lobsters are not easy on the eyes. The first person to discover that these hideous crustaceans were edible deserves a medal. Lobster was once the poor man’s protein and fed mainly to prisoners. These days, the chicken of the sea is enjoying more love than ever – U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel…
In an age of bloated house prices in many urban centres, Atlantic Canada's situation is enviable
Every year, news magazines and websites publish "best city" lists, ranking global cities that are the most attractive places to live. Unfortunately, most middle-class people couldn't afford to live in the cities that top these lists. Those "best city" indexes usually exclude housing affordability as a relevant variable. But how great are cities when only…
Spending has risen steadily in the last generation, and anti-austerity activists clearly need to regain their equilibrium
It's nearly impossible these days to have a conversation about public finance without someone crying "Austerity!" This term has become the meme of choice for political actors, activists and commentators who oppose any reductions to government spending. You'd think that Atlantic Canada, with its generous government programs and social safety net, high taxes and large…
Atlantic Canada premiers should focus on opportunities to make energy more affordable for their citizens, rather than making it more expensive
Last week, the premiers of Atlantic Canada met with federal Environment Minister Katherine McKenna to discuss energy planning for the region’s future. Things discussed included the building of a “clean electricity future,” and a “national price on carbon,” which was described as “impending” in a news article covering the meeting. Atlantic Canada is, indeed, a…
New selection process would upend constitutional convention and an important principle of federalism: regional voices matter
The federal government's new selection process for Supreme Court of Canada justices means that Atlantic Canada will lose its assured seat on the court. This decision violates a long-standing constitutional convention: to gain the consent of the members of Confederation, the provinces. It favours one form of diversity (bilingualism, for example) over others and could exclude the Atlantic region…
