Spending has risen steadily in the last generation, and anti-austerity activists clearly need to regain their equilibrium
HALIFAX, N.S. Dec. 14, 2016/ Troy Media/ - 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…
Atlantic Canada premiers should focus on opportunities to make energy more affordable for their citizens, rather than making it more expensive
CALGARY, Alta. Aug. 22, 2016/ Troy Media/ - 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 [popup url="http://globalnews.ca/news/2873634/atlantic-environment-ministers-commit-to-accelerating-clean-electricity/"…
New selection process would upend constitutional convention and an important principle of federalism: regional voices matter
HALIFAX, N.S. Aug. 15, 2016/ Troy Media/ – 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…
By making benefits too easy to access, a cycle of unemployment is created that discourages the pursuit of education
HALIFAX, N.S. April 20, 2016/ Troy Media/ - Atlantic Canada’s struggling economy has been dealt another blow by the federal government's decision to make employment insurance (EI) easier to access. Unemployed workers in provinces hit hardest by the energy sector downturn have received the most attention in the EI reforms. Few will argue with extending regular benefits by…
No single project or government program will miraculously rescue Atlantic Canada from its depressed economy
HALIFAX, N.S. April 18, 2016/ Troy Media/ - Budget season prompts us to reflect on basic economic questions. A good life rule is: don’t put all your eggs in one basket. In public finances, balance is a sign of good management when the objective is a stronger economy and job creation. The same economic wisdom…
The level of support from other regions of the country has created a dangerous sense of entitlement
// atlantic canada atlantic canada [popup url="link here" height="800" width="800" scrollbars="0"]Download[/popup] this column on [popup url="https://www.troymedia.com/tag/atlantic-canada/" height="600" width="600" scrollbars="0"]Atlantic Canada[/popup] and [popup url="https://www.troymedia.com/tag/equalization/" height="600" width="600" scrollbars="0"]equalization[/popup] [popup url="http://marketplace.troymedia.com/terms-and-conditions-of-use/" height="600" width="600" scrollbars="0"]Terms and conditions of use[/popup] By David MacKinnon and Marco Navarro-Genie Atlantic Institute for Market Studies HALIFAX, N.S. Jan. 27, 2016/ Troy Media/ - A time of…
Radical environmental ideology hurting the region’s economic prospects
Download this column on radical environmentalists for your publication or website. FREE or Price starts at $8 Terms and Conditions of use HALIFAX, NS Jul 17, 2015/ Troy Media/ - Canadians everywhere have a critical role to play in keeping Canada's economy moving forward. But while continuing to abide by our already excellent environmental standards,…
Lessons from Alberta’s experience with natural resource revenue
Download this column for your publication or website. FREE By Robert Roach Jeff Collins and Marco Navarro-Genie Atlantic Institute for Market Studies CALGARY, AB, and HALIFAX, NS Jun 10, 2015/ Troy Media/ - The recent drop in oil prices is an opportunity in disguise for Newfoundland and Labrador (and Atlantic Canada more generally). It’s an…
Governments in Atlantic Canada often opt to douse innovation before it's allowed to catch fire
Download this column for your publication or website HALIFAX, NS Jun 4, 2015/ Troy Media/ - Innovation is a fickle concept, and patents only tell part of the story. Yet when you see that Atlantic Canada ranks last and well below the national average, it's hard to deny we have a problem. Last fall the…
Moving west rather than taking a local job still the preferred option. And the region's labour shortage is only getting worse
CORNWALL, PEI, Jul 6, 2014/ Troy Media/ - There is little in a regional report on changes to the Employment Insurance program that falls into the “shocker” category. PEI Premier Robert Ghiz made no secret of his government’s opposition to the changes, announced in May of 2013, that were designed to tighten up the rules…
