From entitlement to empowerment . . . tomorrow's policies today . . . .
"I don’t think we spend too much money on it in the government. I just don’t think that we spend it very well. I think we spend it in a very cliquish, narrow sort of way. But I don’t think that we need to spend a lot more. I certainly don’t think that we should spend a lot less. .. Art and culture critic Robert Fulford on arts spending in a Frontier Conversation . . .          "Politicians don’t realize that the science is not settled on climate change. They think it’s a done deal and it’s inevitable that they have to take action so the question that they face is what type of action should we take? But I think they need to step back and do the science because it’s not clear that there is a problem because of climate change. There may be no problem at all." - Frontier's conversation with Lawrence Solomon, author of "The Deniers" . . . .           "As a thought experiment, if SaskPower, SaskEnergy and SaskTel were privately owned and independently regulated, would the public of Saskatchewan support a government policy to borrow billions of dollars to nationalize them?" - a Frontier conversation with Sheldon Schwartz . . .           Although Human Rights Commissions were founded to address insupportable abuses in the areas of employment and accommodation, their mandate has been unwisely expanded to include what is, in effect, a censor’s role. Read the latest Policy Series Paper . . .           Allowing public housing tenants the "right to buy" - a Frontier Policy Series Paper . . .           Getting rich by exporting water to the United States - read the provocative new Frontier Backgrounder . . .          Frontier's first video documentary debuts - Watch "Your Land is not Your Land" - How the RM of Ellice expropriated an 87 year old farmer's property for murky "tourism development" purposes.          Professor Bryan Schwartz explores Manitoba as a "supplicant society" - A Conversation on the Frontier . . .          Test your climate change knowledge on Frontier's Smart Green Climate Change Quiz . . .          Making the case for fiscal constitutions in the provinces - Leveling the Spending Field - a Policy Series Paper . . .          Our schoolkids are being taught a particular environmental ideology - why that's a problem - A Frontier Education Backgrounder . . .           Making the case that principals should not be in the teachers' union - another Education Backgrounder . . .          When factors such as household income are controlled, there is no evidence that greater access to computers at school has a positive correlation with academic achievement . . . Read the Frontier Backgrounder on computers in our schools . . .          Indigenous Peoples from an International Perspective - Comparing aboriginals in Australia, New Zealand and Canada - Policy Series Paper . . .          The Frontier Centre for Public Policy releases its 2nd Annual Aboriginal Governance Index, based on a weighted composite of scores evaluating six broad areas of good governance. This year's index covers 112 Aboriginal communities in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Read Canada's only independent assessment of First Nations governance here . . .          A Canadian and European think tank jointly release the first ever international consumer-focused bench-marking of national healthcare systems comparing Canada and 29 European countries. We unveil the 2008 Euro-Canada Health Consumer Index . . .          A smarter way to fight poverty - "Removing more people at the bottom of the income ladder entirely from the tax code is a superior means of fighting poverty." - Read the Policy Series Paper . . . .          The line losses on Manitoba's planned west side transmission line alone will generate greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to an extra 40,000 cars a year. Read the Policy Series Paper - "A Thread Down a Football Field" . . .           Frontier Centre releases its inaugural comprehensive evaluation of the finances of Canada's 30 most populous cities - read our preliminary snapshot of the financial landscape of urban Canada as profiled in the 2007 Local Government Performance Index . . .          David MacKinnon, Ontario critic of regional subsidies discusses how "unthinking money" from Ontario and Alberta retards Manitoba's policy landscape, a Conversation on the Frontier . . .          "Notwithstanding a weaker propensity to invest and expand, publicly retained SaskTel is indistinguishable from MTS . . ." - read the Policy Series Paper comparing SaskTel and MTS . . .          Taking all the cars off Canada’s roads would get us only halfway to Kyoto’s targets for greenhouse gas reductions. . . 10 "Smart Green" ideas to reduce greenhouse gases. . .           Modernizing environmental policy in Canada - the seven principles for making policy "smart green" - A Frontier Policy Series Paper . . .           
Welcome...

The Frontier Centre for Public Policy is an independent public policy think tank whose mission is "to broaden the debate on our future through public policy research and education and to explore positive changes within our public institutions that support economic growth and opportunity." ...More

Localize the FCPP Homepage

Welfare Before Government Welfare

Click to Enlarge



Thu 21 Aug 2008 15 :12 CST

SymbolCurrent
Canadian $0.9584
US $1.0434
S&P/TSX Composite (Toronto)13527.48
Dow Jones (New York)11430.21
NASDAQ Composite2380.38

Why Our Independence Matters to You

1. No Government Funding

Because we seek to comment objectively on public policy, FCPP is the only registered Prairie-based think tank which declines government grants.

2. Diversified Funding Base

We diversify our funding base as much as possible to ensure that we are not beholden to any particular industry, interest or persons. Individuals and businesses that see value in exploring better policy support FCPP. The bulk of our funding comes from charitable foundations that support public policy work in Canada.

3. Board/Staff Firewall

A respected Board of Research Advisors guarantees the independence and integrity of our work. The Centre has a formal policy, embodied in a Board of Directors resolution, that forbids any direct Board involvement or influence in the Centre's education efforts.

For an objective, arm's length take on public policy you can trust the very independent . . . Frontier Centre for Public Policy.


About Frontier    Get Involved    Speaker's Bureau    Get Frontier Email    Frontier Fax    Media Room    FCPP Toolbox    Low Res SiteHigh Res Site
About the Frontier Centre for Public Policy
WHAT IS THE FRONTIER CENTRE FOR PUBLIC POLICY?
The Frontier Centre for Public Policy is an independent, Winnipeg-based "think tank". Our mission is to develop and popularize policy choices that will help Canada's prairie region live up to its vast but unrealized economic potential.

The Centre was founded by a group of individuals interested in making the prairie region a good place to live, work and prosper. Our advisory board includes both experienced community leaders and academic specialists. Charitable status as a registered educational organization was granted by Revenue Canada in April 1999.
WHAT IS A THINK TANK?
Think tanks are a growing world-wide phenomena and their influence is growing locally and worldwide. As ‘intellectual entrepreneurs’, think tanks are free to explore new ideas and policy initiatives unconstrained by the pressures political parties face to be popular at the polls. And unlike lobby groups, who often represent only the narrow interests of their members, think tanks advance policies for the good of the whole country. For these reasons, think tanks enrich public debate and strengthen democracy.
WHY AN INDEPENDENT THINK TANK?
The Frontier Centre addresses the prairie region's economic and social challenges and actively explores new solutions. The goal of our research and educational outreach is to broaden the scope of discussion in this region's stagnant public policy environment-to create a dialogue about ideas for the future.

Independent think tanks receive their funding exclusively from non-governmental sources. This insulates them from the political pressures that frequently discourage publicly funded research groups from exploring sensitive issues.
WHY DO WE NEED NEW IDEAS?
The Prairies, inherently a rich place, have their own set of unique issues.

Despite its diversified economy and hydro wealth, Manitoba has become every more dependent on federal transfers and subsidies. Saskatchewan, with perhaps Canada’s richest resource endowment, still struggles with old debates about the proper role of government in the economy. Alberta, meanwhile, confronts the issues of its super-heated economy with little imagination, preferring to fund old policy models instead of re-inventing and reforming them.

The vast Prairie region will continue to contain the ingredients for being the most prosperous and successful region in the world: abundant natural resources, high quality public services and hardworking, spirited citizens.

The region has immense potential if it embraces new ideas in public policy. The Frontier Centre seeks to provide these ideas.
WHAT ARE THE CENTRE'S IDEAS?
We live in an exciting time of rapidly advancing living standards, exploding knowledge and new opportunities. Borders are disappearing as brains and capital shift to places with favourable tax and investment climates. To prosper in this environment, governments need to offer high-quality public services in combination with lighter taxation. Adhering to our old, increasingly unworkable public administration models is a straightforward recipe for decline.

The Frontier Centre embraces the new economy of innovation and change. We conduct research and educational activities in three broad areas:


  • High-Performance Government - Creating high-productivity public services and institutions based on the principles of transparency, neutrality and separating elected officials from day-to-day operations; government as a purchaser, not provider of services.

  • Social Policy Renewal - consumer-sensitive health care and education systems; the post- welfare state; aboriginal policy based on empowerment, not dependency.

  • The Open Economy - achieving the optimum size of government; adjusting with globalization; the emerging technology-driven rural renaissance, creating the value-added agriculture economy.

HOW DOES THE CENTRE SHARE ITS IDEAS?
In the short time since our founding, the Frontier Centre has achieved high visibility and penetration of the public dialogue through:

  • Policy Notes - Short, solutions-oriented articles published regularly in Manitoba's largest newspaper - The Winnipeg Free Press and various other daily newspapers reach an estimated mass audience of 300,000. These one-page commentaries are also sent to 4,000 readers via fax and e-mail. Centre materials appear regularly in major print media, including the National Post and the Wall Street Journal.

  • Rural Renaissance Notes - Short, solutions-oriented articles published regularly in the Brandon Sun and weekly papers across the Canadian prairies. These one-page commentaries are also sent to 1,500 rural opinion leaders via fax and e-mail.

  • Perspectives - Short policy commentary from the advisory board and invited guests.

  • Backgrounders - Longer 5 page analysis of topical policy issues.

  • Policy Series - Longer reports of interest to researchers and opinion leaders.

  • Conversations from the Frontier - Brief interviews with policy innovators.

  • Meetings with Policy Experts - Short lectures and presentations by trend setting researchers and public officials.

  • Charticles - A one page statistical and graphical discussion or prairie policy issues. Also circulated by fax and email.

  • Lunch on the Frontier - High-profile, international policy modernizers relate their experiences to invited opinion leaders and decision-makers.

  • Breakfast on the Frontier - A forum for regional policy modernizers to relate their experiences to invited opinion leaders and decision-makers.

  • Board of Director Roundtables - By invitation-only meetings with top public policy leaders and decision-makers.

  • Speeches and public presentations - Frontier Centre staff and advisory board members regularly address varied audiences, including service clubs, university students and business organizations.

  • The Frontier Centre Website - The easy- to-navigate electronic repository of all our publications and materials, plus links to top think tanks are other resources, on the Internet at www.fcpp.org

  • Pushing the Boundaries - The Centre's weekly public policy commentary on the Golden West Radio network and 9 stations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. A fresh perspective on everyday issues which is also archived at www.fcpp.org

  • Radio and TV- Centre personnel and advisors appear regularly on TV current affairs programs and radio talk shows. These video and audio appearances, including Lunch on the Frontier speeches and Meetings with Policy Experts lectures can be found on the Frontier Channel at www.fcpp.org.
WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE? EFFECTIVE?
Regional Focus - The Centre concentrates on prairie policy issues at all levels of government. Other independent think tanks, like the CD Howe Institute or the Fraser Institute, produce important and useful research, but their attention is focussed primarily on national concerns - not local issues on the eastern prairies.

The Average Person is Our Audience - The Centre strives to popularize important but complicated concepts by writing in a short, topical format that translates them into entertaining reading for a mass audience. Longer, more detailed materials are available for the limited numbers who want to delve deeper into issues.

Economics Focus - The Frontier Centre's work focuses on emerging economic trends. We do not address issues with a controversial moral or political dimension like same sex marriage, abortion, censorship, capital punishment or national unity.

Non-partisan and Independent - The Frontier Centre is non-partisan and non-ideological. Committed to our independence, we neither seek nor accept government funding. By this definition we are the only truly independent think tank on the prairies.

Intellectual Strength / People - Our advisory board includes both experienced public policy innovators and academic specialists.
Endorsements by Public Figures and Community Leaders
Hon. Duff Roblin, Premier of Manitoba 1958-1967:
"The Frontier Centre for Public Policy challenges conventional thinking and even popular opinion about important issues of public policy. This stimulation to public discussion and debate is a critical public service to an improving society. It deserves hearty applause."


Hon. Janice MacKinnon, Saskatchewan Finance Minister 1993-1997:
"The Frontier Centre is a fantastic forum to discuss innovative policy options, a criticial ingredient in sound public policy and forward looking government."


Gordon Gibson, author and columnist:
"Commentaries which combine the twin virtue of solid public policy and a presentation understandable and persuasive to the ordinary reader..."


Angus Reid, Angus Reid Consultants:
"I'm very impressed by the work of your centre. Keep up the good work..."


Hon. John Messer, former Saskatchewan Agriculture and Transport Minister:
"Saskatchewan and Manitoba need bold ideas to prosper and succeed. The Frontier Centre has a big opportunity to help this process and to challenge conventional thinking."


Jerry L.Gray - I.H. Asper School of Business, The University of Manitoba:
"Innovation in public policy is the one area in which Manitoba could create a sustainable competitive edge that would set us apart from others and create economic growth and social development unparalleled anywhere else in Canada. The Frontier Centre is at the forefront of the issues we need to examine."


Scott Mackay, President, Probe Research Inc.:
"I was very impressed with the calibre of the speaker as well as the array of well recognized civic opinion leaders in attendance."


Geoffrey Hale, Assistant Professor, Political Science, University of Lethbridge:
"Frontier is provocative but rigorous in its analysis of public policy issues."


David Henderson, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University:
"I truly believe that the Frontier Centre, with a larger budget, could have a huge impact on Manitoba politics in the next few years. It has a rare ability to get policy makers to pay attention to its ideas. "
Board of Directors

  • Wayne Anderson (Chair)
  • James Blatz
  • Rob Coghlan
  • Sue Hicks
  • John Heimbecker
  • Peter Holle
  • Alexander McKenzie (Secretary)
  • Hon. Charlie Mayer
  • John R. Messer
  • Richard M. Riffel

Goldenwest Radio Commentary
Every Friday on the Goldenwest Radio Network - original and provocative "new ideas" commentary by the policy professionals at the Frontier Centre, the prairie’s only independent think tank....Hear our commentary in Manitoba on CFRY-Portage, CFAM, Altona, AM1250-Steinbach and CJRB-Boissevain; in Saskatchewan on CHAB-Moose Jaw, CKSW-Swift Current, AM 1190 Weyburn, and CJ1280-Estevan; and in Alberta on CHRB-High River. Watch for more content soon.
Staff

  • Peter Holle, President
  • Cameron Neumann, Director of Operations
  • Claire Toews, Development and Marketing Co-ordinator
  • Robert Sopuck, Director, Smart Green Project
  • Donald Sandberg, Aboriginal Frontiers Project
  • Rebecca Walberg, Director, Health Policy
  • David Seymour, Saskatchewan Policy Analyst
  • Joseph Quesnel, Manning Student Intern
  • Erin Hartness, Office Administrator
Frontier Store . . .

Now available for sale . . .



DVD - Dr. Tim Ball's lecture - Whither the Weather? - Considering the dubious case for man-made climate change



This witty and informative 70 minute presentation by Historical Climatologist Tim Ball includes a picture in picture video of his remarks accompanied by his powerpoint slides. Includes graphs, charts and other data which shows that recent warming is not unusual or alarming. The bigger risk, he suggests, is global cooling - a condition which would make most of the Canadian prairies unsuitable for agriculture. (DVD plays on conputer and contains related links to more materials on climate change)



$29.95 including shipping.



Contact the Frontier Centre for Public Policy at (204) 977-5050 or email -newideas@fcpp.org

Contact Information
The Frontier Centre for Public Policy
Suite 25 Lombard Concourse
One Lombard Place
Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3B-0X3
Telephone: (204) 957-1567
Fax: (204) 957-1570
E-Mail: newideas@fcpp.org

Saskatchewan Office -

2353 McIntyre Street
Regina, Saskatchewan
Canada S4P 2S3
Telephone: (306) 352-2915
Fax: (306) 352-2938
E-Mail: seymourd@fcpp.org
Your Policy Orientation?
Where do you fit on the political map? This link will take you to a site that tells you whether you are a liberal, a conservative, a statist, a libertarian, or a centrist.

Find out your policy orientation by clicking here

Fixing My Screen View
The Frontier Centre's website is set up for screens with a resolution of 1024 by 768 or higher. If you have a lower resolution screen the text in the centre screen will appear cut off. To fix this press the link "Low Res Site" on the right hand side of the second menu bar.

This site is optimized for screen resolution 1024 by 768 and higher.

All content Copyright 2008, The Frontier Centre For Public Policy

Manitoba Office: Suite 25 Lombard Concourse, One Lombard Place - Winnipeg, MB Canada R3B 0X3
Tel: (204) 957-1567 Fax: (204) 957-1570

Sask Office: 2353 McIntyre Street - Regina, SK CANADA S4P 2S3
Tel: (306) 352-2915 - Fax: (306) 352-2938

Alberta Office: Ste. 2000 - 444, 5th Avenue SW - Calgary, AB CANADA T2P 2T8
Tel: (403) 230-2435

E-mail: newideas@fcpp.org Homepage: www.fcpp.org


Search

Upcoming FCPP Events
More events coming soon. Please join us then as we explore the frontier of public policy.
 
Upcoming FCPP Appearances

Watch for more appearances soon - to book a Frontier speaker for your community club or organization contact newideas@fcpp.org

 
In The News

2008-08-21
Montreal Gazette Urges Flat Tax for Canada
o Canada's 1917 income-tax act was just 10 pages long; today's comprises more than 1,100 pages in each language. The forms and publications (www.cra-arc.gc.ca) are trackless thickets of legalese. Even the simple basic personal tax form (due today!) is a challenge, so most of us need professionals to fill it out. Very few corporations can do without tax pros.

o Income tax is so complicated because the system does so many things. Home-relocation loans, "grubstakers' shares," northern residents, "ecological gifts," the list of special deals goes on and on.

o The Canada Revenue Agency needs 44,000 employees, to joust with the countless expensive private-sector tax wizards who help corporations and the rich exploit every loophole and argue for more. None of them creates any wealth; they just haggle over the wealth others create.

o There is a better way. Imagine everyone paying at one rate, on every dollar earned. You could "do your taxes" on a postcard. About 20 versions of the flat tax exist already, many in ex-communist countries where a new tax system was designed without kowtowing to special interests. Alberta has it.

Source: "Flat tax would make today a lot easier," The Montreal Gazette, April 30, 2008.