Ontario Liberal Party leadership candidate Glen Murray recently announced that as Premier, he would create a Northern Ontario government. This is an idea worthy of consideration.
Year: 2012
Media Release – Massive Cost Overrun for Calgary’s West LRT Line a Reminder that Rail is Rarely as Cheap as Advertised
Calgary’s West LRT line opened today. The project cost more than double the initial $700 million estimate. While the cost escalation is greater than occurs on average for urban rail projects, the reality is that the average North American urban rail project costs over 40 percent more than estimated, and garners 60 per cent less ridership than projected. Voters should be sceptical of rosy forecasts for light rail projects.
United in Dependence
Imagine that you have a pile of money and several kids. Some of those kids work hard and are quite self-sufficient. Some of them, on the other hand, just never quite seem able to look after themselves. Because you’re rich and you believe all your kids deserve a similar standard of living, you pay the ne’er-do-wells a good allowance accompanied by lots of well-meaning admonitions to try and harder and make something of themselves.
The North American Gusher: We’re just beginning to tap the continent’s vast hydrocarbon resources
President Obama has promised to get the anemic U.S. economy going again by boosting exports. Besides the export of billions of freshly printed U.S. dollars from the Federal Reserve, it is not clear exactly what the president has in mind.
Featured News
The Man who Saved the Plains Indians
At the time of Confederation, Canada’s Plains Indians were in a desperate situation. The same European-introduced guns and horses that resulted in a briefly glorious golden age for them had also resulted in constant inter-tribal warfare and the rapid disappearance of...
Renewed Talk of Abolishing the Indian Act
Political attacks on the Indian Act are back in the news, and that is a good thing. However, Canadian politicians, including First Nation politicians, need a credible plan about what to do before we pull out the champagne. Attacking the Indian Act is not a big deal...
What is a Half-Urban World?
Within the last couple of years, the population of the world has become more than one half urban for the first time in history. By 2025, the world’s urban areas are expected to account for 58% of the world population, rising further to two-thirds in 2050. This represents a huge increase from the 29% that was urban in 1950, or estimates of approximately 10% (or less) in 1800.
The NDP Would be Smart to Press Pause
Continuing to spend billions on dams for which the market has effectively disappeared will eventually erode the one undisputed area where Manitoba has some natural strengths – efficient and economical hydro power.
Northern Dams in Doubt: Province orders study of need for Keeyask, Conawapa
The Selinger government wants the Public Utilities Board rate watchdog to tell it if there’s a better alternative to Manitoba Hydro’s proposed northern Keeyask and Conawapa generating stations.
Saskatchewan (Somewhat) Modernizes Liquor Policies
While the provincial government seems reluctant to make changes that will reduce the cost of alcohol, wine, or beer, they have introduced some modest changes to update the provinces out of date liquor laws.
Anti-oilsands rhetoric distorts accurate assessment of risk
Apparently Quebec's environment affairs has problems with plans to import crude from Alberta's oil sands to Montreal refineries. Daniel Breton, a former environmental activist, mentioned that there are "environmental risks with oil." He then made specific mention of a...
Alberta PCs Plan Overhaul of Election Finance Law
Tom Flanagan, the University of Calgary professor who has worked for Wildrose and the federal Conservatives, has called Alberta’s election finance law “embarrassing … the fiscal foundation of the one-party system.” The Frontier Centre of Public Policy argued for more transparency. The Parkland Institute wants the donation limit slashed to something like the federal limit of about $1,100.
Conservatives Look to Tackle Social Services with Free Market Ingenuity
The government is always making “important announcements.” Every press release is labelled as such, even if it’s (as on Tuesday) merely funding for snow-grooming equipment for a quad riding club in Quebec. To be fair, that was probably judged “important” in Victoriaville, Que., if nowhere else.
Don’t Throw Resources Under the Bus: Energy is our best bet
Investing in Canada’s energy sector is crucial and practical for the country’s economic well-being. While the country has experienced serious setbacks in manufacturing and forestry, Western Canadian service companies are making technological breakthroughs such as coiled tubing rigs and hydraulic fracturing of tight oil and gas reservoirs. However, popular opinion is being tilted by groups in BC against new pipeline capacity.
Strengthening Fiscal Responsibility Through Decentralization: Empower local voters to increase government accountability and efficiency
The constitution allocates responsibility over most policy areas exclusively to the provinces or the federal government. But the federal government routinely oversteps its bounds. To create more accountable, more efficient government, the federal government should step back and allow the provinces and municipalities to fund and deliver the services that they are responsible for.