The federal government is about to abolish compulsory membership in the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). However, there are good reasons to doubt that a voluntary board will succeed. Farmers who chose not to take part in the board will likely be better off, like their counterparts in the rest of the world that do not operate under a wheat marketing board.
Year: 2011
Centralized Planning Poses Significant Challenges for First Responders to Disaster Situations: Frontier Centre study argues solutions that privilege grass roots
Bureaucratic, centralized disaster responses have a long history of failure.
Media Release – Successful Disaster Recovery Hinges on Community Participation: Frontier Centre study argues centralized planning creates “yellow tape” for first responders
When it comes to disaster relief, the evidence shows that organically organized, decentralized groups of communities and individuals are best able to prepare for and rebuild after natural disasters occur.
Where Does Heavy Oil Come From?
I wonder if the EU is considering this oil in their new carbon standard?
Featured News
Timeless Wisdom – The Politics of Successful Structural Reform
It’s a well-known pattern in public policy – profligate politicians damaging their economies with out-of-control spending, massive borrowing and higher taxes – inevitably leading to fiscal crisis, sharp declines in growth and ultimately rapidly falling currency value...
Canada’s National Hysteria in the 21st Century
Mass hysteria is the spontaneous manifestation of a particular behaviour by many people. There are numerous historical examples: Middle Age nuns at a convent in France spontaneously began to meow like cats; at another convent, nuns began biting one another. In...
The Free Market Secret of the Arab Revolutions
In the wake of the overthrow of three autocrats, not enough credit has been given to the mighty consensus that triggered the uprising – the desire of a vast, underclass of people to work in a legal market economy. In the culturally diverse Middle East and north Africa, the one common thread is its informal economy. This is the key to future growth and indeed stability.
Who are the 1%
Interesting commentary from the National Post.
Employment Insurance Report
A new report says the Employment Insurance system is broken and needs a more transparent, effective and equitable national framework.
CAPP and Industry Have Themselves To Blame
The major driver of anti-oils sands activism, and hence any and all pipelines that help deliver oil sands products to market, is the widely discredited hypothesis that our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are leading to a climate crisis.
How Do We Assess Kids Without Tests?
Alberta has the most comprehensive standardized testing in Canada. Our students also consistently outperform pupils in other provinces on international achievement tests. Yet Alberta Premier Alison Redford wants to ditch provincial achievement tests (PATs) for Grade 3 and 6 students.
Saskatchewan NDP Needs to Reclaim Its Legacy to Regain Power
The Saskatchewan NDP suffered a humiliating defeat in the recent election. This defeat was all but inevitable, given the state of the economy. In order to minimize losses, the NDP ran to the left in order to ensure that their most ideological supporters would show up to vote. The tactic appears to have backfired. The party needs to move back to the center, and present a fiscally responsible agenda as it did during Roy Romanow’s tenure. Otherwise, the party faces the prospect of permanent opposition status.
One of the Worst VATS: Canada’s GST/HST exemptions keep rates high
Canadians have been told that the GST (a value-added tax) is a far better tax than most other levies and that Canada has one of the best GSTS in the world, according to OECD analysis. The GST is not all it’s hyped up to be, due to its massive tax preferences and special provisions. In fact, Canada’s consumption tax is below average in performance.
Come From Behind?
The news this week is that Newt is looking good in the Republican race.
Could The Built it Today
Can a bridge be built today?