A Lancet study finds e-cigarettes appear to cut consumption of smokers. After six months, however, the 57% of e-cigarette users had halved the number of cigarettes smoked each day compared with 41% in those using patches. I find it strange that some people want to ban...
Les Routledge
Municipal Mergers – One Small Positive Step
The Manitoba Government has now decided that one size fits all does not work well for guiding municipal mergers. That is a small positive step for the know it all people in government. The next step is to understand that local municipalities have been entering into...
Natural Gas Versus Hydro
The energy debate in Manitoba is slowly getting around to looking at a proposition I advanced when I was with the Manitoba Sustainable Energy Association that involves deploying scalable natural gas systems as an alternative to large, long lead time hydro dams.
In my opinion, there is a need to move towards a more distributed model of producing energy in this province. As I described in 2009, it is possible that moving towards a combination of a distributed energy generation and smart grids could…
- improve the security of supply of energy across Manitoba;
- distribute benefits associated with electrical energy production more equitably throughout Manitoba;
- encourage the adoption of combined heat-and-power energy systems in agricultural, commercial, industrial and institutional settings;
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions and negative environmental impacts associated with energy mega-project development;
- create a platform to implement demand-side energy management systems and time-of-use rates;
- more fully utilize existing electrical transmission and distribution assets throughout Manitoba.
German Perspective on Spying and Privacy
The global spying scandal shows that the US has become manic
Featured News
Canadian Property Rights Index 2023
A Snapshot of Property Rights Protection in Canada After 10 years
Alberta Politics and Empty Promises of Health-care Solutions
The writ has been dropped and Albertans are off to the polls on May 29. That leaves just four weeks for political leaders and voters to sort out what is arguably the most divisive, yet significant, issue for this election - health care. On Day 2, NDP leader Rachel...
Municipal Amalgamation – Not a Good Idea
Given the opportunity, I would support a move back to two councils and a shared services agreement.
Cox on Urban Sprawl
Creating Satellite Towns to Accommodate Growth Makes Sense.
Precautionary Principle Push Back
News from the UK dealing with over reach in advice to pregnant women.
Keystone in the News
One more element has been put in place with the release of a Draft State Department Assessment of the impacts of the pipeline. In my mind, the assessment is correct that the pipeline will have limited impact on the future development of the oil sands. Already higher...
Tim Sale on Manitoba Hydro
It is time for an independent assessment of Hydro’s current strategy by a competent third party
Public Good Research
In this new global world, is there not a need to fund Ag Canada and the National Research Council to perform this type of foundation building research that can launch new innovations into our economy?
Mintz on SOE Takeover Policy
Jack Mintz generally agrees with the governments new policy framework. In his commentary, Jack presents a position that management control by SOE can lead to reduced economic performance.
Another Friday Night Special
In a not surprising move, the federal government announced late Friday that it was approving the CNOOC and Petronas take overs.
Why I am Moving to the UK
Power prices are going to get more expensive in Canada because of political interference.