Two years ago, eight bright orange metal silos—each five-stories in height—appeared overnight on the land abutting rail giant, BNSF’s Winnipeg track. The rail corridor cuts through the heart of Winnipeg’s Tony River Heights neighbourhood. “An eyesore,” claimed one...
Mary-Jane Bennett
The Need for Rail Re-Alignment in White Rock and Surrey
The view from the southwest flank of Canada’s coastline—between Surrey B.C.’s Crescent Beach and the city of White Rock—is breathtaking. “It’s Canada’s Amalfi coast,” enthuses Erik Seiz, President of the Crescent Beach Property Owners’ Association. With its...
Nationalism in the Skies: The square peg in a round world
Executive Summary The 1944 Chicago International Aviation Conference, known as the Chicago Conference, was convened to determine how best to deal with air transportation between countries. A multilateral or borderless trade was proposed by the United States (hereafter...
Nationalism in the Skies and the bête noire of the 21st century
Emirates CEO Tim Clark says the airline industry considers the Gulf giant its “bête noire” –the “monster of the Middle East.” With two-thirds of the world living within eight hours of its Dubai hub, it seems the whole world is now changing planes in the Middle East....
Featured News
Weaponizing the Law
The indictment of former U.S. president Donald Trump for crimes invented by his political opponents is the most egregious example yet seen of the weaponizing of the law. The United States is now full of examples. However, in Canada, we also see the law being...
“Looking At” Seizing Control Over Western Canada’s Natural Resources
OTTAWA, REGINA - Last week, two things happened that could have profound impacts on natural resources development in Saskatchewan. One is a hint the federal government might want to take control of natural resources away from the provinces, and the other is the...
“Let’s all meet in Honolulu. It’s cheaper than flying home to Toronto”: the problem with Canadian air fares
Canadians are crossing the border into the United States to fly from American airports because departing from Canada is much more expensive. In fact, Canadians make up over half of the passengers departing from some American airports near the border. This is a result of government policy.
A New Policy is Required for Air Transportation: High Canadian airfares are hurting airports and our economy
Annually, five million Canadians opt to cross the border and depart from U.S. airports when they fly, because they save on average $428 per person per round-trip. The Canadian government needs to facilitate and encourage competition in the air transportation sector or continue to lose to the U.S.
Heathrow Wins Airport Gold
Mary-Jane Bennett argues that Canada must privatize its airports to reduce passenger loss to the United States and bolster our major airports as hubs of commercial activity.
Airport Policy in Canada
Mary Jane Bennett argues that Canada should privatize its airports to reduce passenger loss to the United States and bolster our major airports as hubs of commercial activity.
Grain Freight Regulation has Inhibited Productivity: Grain policies designed for bygone era
By eliminating the special treatment of grain, the federal government can eliminate barriers to investment, boost railway productivity and enhance the movement of goods in Canada.
Grain Freight Regulation in Canada: Effects of 1897 Crow’s Nest Pass rates on grain still with us
A newly released study for the Frontier Centre for Public Policy looks at the history of railway and freight regulation in Canada to argue that while grain protection policy was seen as progressive at the time, the economic fall-out throughout the industry has often been detrimental.