To grasp why Canada’s equalization program is such a public policy disaster, some myths need to be busted about the $14.8-billion annual transfer of federal tax dollars to the provinces through equalization — and the $46-billion in other inter-governmental transfers. So, let’s some consider some inconvenient facts.
Mark Milke
Mark Milke on Political Funding
Listen to Mark Milke on taxpayer subsidies for political parties here. (13 minutes)
Canada’s Not-So Friendly Skies: Why Canadian Consumers Pay Sky-High Airfares
Canadian consumers pay sky-high airfares compared to both the U.S. and Europe.
Money for Nothing and Your Cheques for Free: Industry Canada’s Corporate Welfare Repayment Records
Industry Canada has paid out $18 billion in corporate welfare since 1982—and collected back only $1.9 billion.
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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...
The Real Have-Nots In Confederation: British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario
British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario—the traditional “have” provinces—have fewer services than recipient “have-not” provinces.
Subsidizing Canada’s Break-Up On The Public Dime: Public subsidies and the Bloc Quebecois
The Bloc Quebecois took in just $1.4 million in 2008 in private donations—but $7.9 million in public subsidies.
Subsidizing Separatism in Quebec: Public Subsides for Political Parties
The Frontier’s new review of public subsidies to political parties is out: such subsidies have cost $330 million since 2000 and have mainly helped the sovereigntist movement in Quebec.
Frontier posts College of Physicians and Surgeons investigation of wrongly alleged “cancer epidemic” in oilsands.
In 2006, Dr. John O’Connor, a Nova Scotia physician then working in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, alleged that an epidemic of cancer was occurring in northern Alberta—and because of the oilsands operations there. In light of this, Frontier has decided to post the November 4, 2009 College of Physicians and Surgeons investigation of Dr. O’Connor.
“Irrefutable” Facts on Poverty from the United Kingdom
Frontier Centre Research Director Mark Milke interviews former United Kingdom Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith on anti-poverty initiatives from his Centre For Social Justice. The causes of poverty and remedies might surprise those on both sides of the ideological spectrum.
CJOB Radio – Voter Subsidy Discussion – With Mark Milke
Listen to Mark Milke discuss voter subsidies with Goeff Currier on CJOB. (17 minutes)
Restoring Peter Lougheed’s Original Vision
The Alberta government needs to make regular deposits into the Heritage Fund says the Frontier Centre’s Director of Research, Mark Milke. Since Alberta became debt-free, the province has taken in over $47-billion in resource revenues while depositing only $3.9 billion into the Heritage Fund.
CHQR Radio – Canada’s Energy Industry – With Mark Milke
Listen to Andy Gregory from CHQR Radio in Calgary speak to Mark Milke about the relationship of politicians and Canada's energy industry. (19 minutes)
What Saved the Bloc Quebecois in the 2008 Election: Public Money
Over the past several decades, there have been several key changes to how Canada’s federal political parties are funded. The most recent and significant changes took effect in 2004 with federal legislation (Bill C-24, passed in 2003) which banned corporate and union donations.