Two new studies on wireless competition in Canada were released last week. Also, Bell announced that it was cutting roaming rates to the U.S. “Wireless Competition in Canada: An Assessment” is by Jeffrey Church of the University of Calgary’s School of Public...
Year: 2013
Saskatchewan First Nation takes aim at social assistance dependency
Little Pine First Nation, a small band located about 90 kilometres from Lloydminster, is aiming to radically reduce its social assistance rates on reserve. This piece explains what they’re doing. According to the news story, the community has reduced its caseload by...
Western Power Line Sparks Interest
Recently, Manitoba Conservative MP Steven Fletcher promoted the building of a transmission line from Manitoba Hydro’s northern dams (two new ones are planned to be constructed in the next decade) to carry electricity to Saskatchewan and Alberta. Conceptually,...
2013 International Property Rights Index
The Frontier Centre for Public Policy, along with the Property Rights Alliance, today released the 2013 International Property Rights Index (IPRI). The 2013 Index, measures the protection of property rights in 131 countries. This represents 98 per cent of the world...
Featured News
The Renewable Part of Hydrogen is the Hype
Once again, the world is staging ClimateFest 26, aka the United Nations Conference of the Parties, where peddlers of alternative energy schemes try to plunge their dippers into the river of climate change funding that flows around the world. This funding is generated...
Small Gestures Speak Louder than Great Deeds
The age-old expression that actions speak louder than words conveys an important insight: character is best judged through action. Anyone can say or promise anything but doing requires ability and skill, discipline and commitment. So, the simplest test of character is...
New Farmer’s Market a Small Step in the Right Direction for Downtown Winnipeg
Rather than focusing on one big answer (e.g. stadiums, convention centres, etc), Downtown Winnipeg needs a lot of little solutions. The new farmers market spearheaded by the Downtown Business Improvement Zone (BIZ) is exactly the type of small scale project that can help with this process.
Ambition Trumps Policy
As Kiwis watch Kevin Rudd’s re-elevation to the Australian prime ministership, one curious thing becomes clear: this leadership bid had nothing to do with policy, but Mr Rudd’s character, and backbenchers afraid of losing their seats.
5 Reasons Price Gouging Should Be Legal (Especially During Disasters)
As flooding in Alberta continues to wreak havoc on people's lives, property and well-being, the media's initial dramatic disaster coverage has started to move on to more human interest type stories. Thankfully it's been mostly good news: survival stories, loved ones...
Valuation Analysis Of SaskTel
In this policy study, Madsen examines a variety of indicators to ascertain the value of the Saskatchewan government owned SaskTel. Madsen follows well-established practices and methodologies that include two different approaches in order to gain an insight into the monetary worth of the Saskatchewan Crown Corporation. SaskTel is an historic Saskatchewan institution that has played a role in the development of the province. Established in 1908, communication in those days was not universal and did not always extend to every farm or hamlet. It could be very expensive and often impossible to get a telephone line, as well as quite expensive to keep one. The Internet, cellular telephony, cable television – even just television – had yet to be invented.
Media Release – How Much Value is Locked in SaskTel?
In this policy study, Madsen examines a variety of indicators to ascertain the value of the Saskatchewan government owned SaskTel. Madsen follows well-established practices and methodologies that include two different approaches in order to gain an insight into the monetary worth of the Saskatchewan Crown Corporation.
Two Sensible Parking Reforms (One of Which Will Never Happen)
The most recent edition of Access (the University of California Transportation Centre’s quarterly journal) ran two thought provoking pieces on parking policy. One was a piece on how to optimally allocate parking in urban neighbourhoods, written by economist turned parking guru Donald Shoup. For those familiar with his work, this piece holds up to his usual standard of excellence. The more controversial piece was written by Michael Manville, Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University, and Jonathan Williams, a Transportation Planner in Seattle. They argue that cities should eliminate free parking for disabled people. While this one will no doubt spark outrage (hence, will never happen), it is an equally sensible proposal.
Ed Schreyer Speaks, Best to Listen
On June 25th, former Governor General of Canada and former Premier of Manitoba Ed Schreyer spoke at a Frontier Centre luncheon. His topic was Manitoba Hydro's plans (supported by the provincial government), to spend tens of billions of dollars to construct...
Seismic Company Challenging Confiscation of Intellectual Property
Governments can sometimes regulate the use of private property to the extent of nearly expropriating it. Regulatory policies are acceptable under our legal system, even if surprisingly, there is no requirement to pay compensation for the use of the private property....
Precautionary Double Standards: Wind turbines kill birds and harm people. Why doesn’t the “precautionary principle” apply?
Jessica Marszelek, federal politics reporter for Australia’s News Limited Network, recently posted an article titled, “Australia: Wind power ‘terrorising’ rural communities.” Some 150 people turned up for a three-hour rally at Canberra’s Parliament House, she reported, to express their concern about the health effects of wind turbines.