Despite constant indications and reminders that a province with an state-directed economy, one over-burdened by out-of-control government expenditures, is not likely to be a stellar economic performer, the provincial government continued its quest to extend its hegemony.
Municipal Government
Toronto’s Successful Garbage Privatization
When Toronto privatized garbage collection west of Yonge street last year, ideologues on the left panicked. They argued that it would lead to worse service, pointing to initial collection delays when private collection began. A local union even created a complaint line. As I argued in a National Post article on the subject, this highlights all that is right with contracting out services: it’s much easier to hold private companies accountable than government.
Naming – ‘bread and circuses’
Unfortunately, the main ‘plebiscite’, on the continuation of the government, is still some time off. In the interim, and unfortunately, despite evident economic woes, the government chooses ‘bread and circuses’ – and calls a vote on trees and fish.
Deceiving Oneself to the Cost of Others
The budget, implemented, will make a heavily indebted and high-taxed Manitoba even less competitive with other jurisdictions than it already is, resulting in less investment in the Province and more ‘movements out’ of the young, the skilled, the professionals and the wealthy.
Featured News
Why University?
In this essay, I explain that young people should come to university to be educated, and not to become credentialed; the public should support universities because universities educate young people, not because they produce credentialled workers. Why should a...
A Lamentable Tale of Two Colonies
During the whole of recorded history, the empire has been the most constant and common form of political organization. A basic, self-evident feature of all empire-building has been the successful occupation of the lands of the local, Indigenous inhabitants by outside...
Honduras’s Experiment With Free-Market Cities
What advocate of free markets hasn’t, at one time or another, fantasized about running away to a desert island to start a country where economic liberty would be the law of the land? If things go according to plan, more than one such “island” may soon pop up here.
Toronto: 3 Cities in More Than One Way
Since the 1998 municipal amalgamation of the Megacity of Toronto there has developed a culture war: The culture war between the suburbs and the core is an acknowledgement of the zero sum game created by the megacity.
Toronto’s Big Experiment
It looks like the City of Toronto will pursue the development of the Shepperd subway line using private financing.
Keeping our Cities Livable: The head of the world’s biggest water and waste management company says private sector involvement is crucial.
As human beings pile into ever growing urban clusters, issues such as waste management, water and energy supply and transportation, become more important. And the more sophisticated the city, the greater the problems and the bigger both the need and desire to find a more comprehensive solution.
Eminent Domain
“It’s artificially manufactured blight,” Mr. Bae said
Stealth Expropriation
Manitoba farmers operating along the Assiniboine River near the Saskatchewan border say the province failed to protect their interests in a recent water deal with its western neighbour. see article Farmers negatively affected by the operation of flood control systems...
Municipal Infrastructure Chickens Return to Roost: Years of accounting neglect are over, and the price is there to pay.
The rush to cover infrastructure maintenance costs which have recently become apparent should be borne by local taxpayers. Federal or provincial funding of municipalities means sending money into capital city fiscal washing machines from whence city residents will struggle to get value for money.
Diversity in Governance: A New Deal for Cities (Part 3 of 8): Province must respect local democracy
Manitoba must adopt a new deal with its cities which is reflected in provincial legislation and changed attitude on the part of provincial leaders.
Political Tremors in Alberta
Wildrose Alliance leader Danielle Smith is right in saying that the Progressive Conservative party in Alberta is in disarray. It would be difficult not to come to that conclusion. Within 24 hours, Alberta has seen two of its most powerful political figures resign, Ed Stelmach the premier and Ted Morton the minister of finance.
Ted Morton and Ed Stelmach: Some one has to draw the line somewhere
“Contrary to the rampant speculation, this does not reflect a caucus divided over a budget or any other issue,” the Premier said, but he protests far too much. Stelmach is in full damage control mode.
Whatever the dignified and solemn public speeches might say, and however the protagonists attempt to hide it for the sake of appearing undivided, Alberta’s ruling party currently sits on a political fault line. The upcoming budget is a not-yet visible manifestation of the seismic activity resulting from it. Even school children in the province probably know it.