On Tuesday, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce attacked fiscal federalism, claiming that Canada’s complex system of transfers and equalization payments robs Ontario taxpayers and diminishes national productivity.
Media Appearances
Civil Servant Wages Rose at Nearly Double Average Rate
Wage increases doled out to federal and provincial public servants have nearly doubled those given to private-sector employees in the past decade, according to a new report that calls on governments to take a closer look at efficiency among their ranks of workers.
Accountability Framework: Have we arrived there yet?
A few weeks ago I made reference to the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. It has come up with a national Municipality Transparency Index. Saint John was rated last on a list of 133 cities. Armed with awareness I decided to spend a bit of time digging through the City of Saint John’s website in an effort to become more enlightened.
786 Square Feet in Canada’s Second-Least Affordable City
For decades, conventional wisdom said your house should cost about 2 1 /2 times your family income. But a study released by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy two weeks ago showed the Canadian average price-to-income ratio is now 4.6 to one.
Featured News
Free Trade among the Prairie Provinces: A Boost for Their Economies
Trade barriers among provinces in Canada are a problem. Canada has signed trade agreements with foreign countries like the U.S. and regions like the European Union. Yet, trade barriers still exist in Canada even though countries like Germany or Belgium don’t have...
“Capitol” Punishment: A Betrayal
The attack on the Capitol in Washington and its aftermath have taken a toll, but unfortunately, the incident will remain remote and extraordinary for most. It has been politicized, sensationalized and reconstructed, but its tragic impact on those on the front lines is...
Think Tank Says City Not yet World-Class
Calgary remains a leader in Canada thanks to its red-hot economy, but a policy think tank says the city still needs to improve on how it accounts for funding crumbling infrastructure. The Frontier Centre for Public Policy released data from a review of 30 of Canada's...
Sherbrooke’s High Debt?
The City of Sherbrooke has high debt levels and is struggling to provide core services, states a new national survey. The Frontier Centre for Public Policy, a Manitoba-based think tank, just released the results of its first Local Government Performance Index: A...
Montreal Deep in Debt
A recent Winnipeg study has named Montreal the most indebted major Canadian city, with debts over three times higher than the national average for Canadian cities. The study, entitled "Local Government Performance Index: A Financial Analysis of 30 Canadian Cities,"...
Three Stats You Just Can’t Be Without on a Saturday: The Week in Economics
Canada is awash in reports on the fiscal health of provincial and federal governments, but putting together a full picture of the balance sheets of the country's cities is next to impossible. Now, the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, a Prairie-based think tank, has...
City Spends Too Much on ‘Niceties’
Toronto’s property taxes are 53% higher than the national average, in part because the city spends too much money on unnecessary “niceties,” according to a new report the Mayor dismissed as “very illinformed.” The study, conducted by the Winnipeg-based Frontier Centre...
Halifax’s Financial Picture Just So-So: Winnipeg Think-Tank
Halifax Regional Municipality is in pretty good financial shape, but it could be doing better. A new report from the Winnipeg-based think-tank Frontier Centre, which is the sister think-tank to the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, has compared the finances of...
City Council Spending Money Wisely, Study Finds
Despite a tighter tax base and economic circumstances that are less robust than in some other Canadian centres, Winnipeg's city council appears to be doing a good job of spending its money wisely. That's according to a report released yesterday by the Frontier Centre...
Surrey’s Accounts in Order
Surrey does the best job of Canada's most populous cities in disclosing its financial information so that residents understand how well it is performing, according to a report released Tuesday. The Frontier Centre for Public Policy, a Winnipeg-based non-profit think...
Windsor’s Taxes Above Average, Analysis Finds
Windsor is a high-tax, high-cost municipality and "a substantial drain" on senior government funds, according to an analysis of the financial performance of Canada's 30 largest cities. The report, entitled the 2007 Local Government Performance Index (LGPI), was...