Using the combined purchasing power of the three Maritime governments would indeed be a good idea, because it would save taxpayers money. But it would do nothing to solve the problem of the three provinces being “terribly over-governed,” which has been used as an argument to advance the union by Senator Mike Duffy and the National Post editorial board.
Municipal Government
Former Toronto Mayor Calls for De-Amalgamating the Megacity
Amalgamating the seven municipalities that now constitute the City of Toronto was quite likely the biggest mistake made by the Government of Ontario in modern history. It was hugely unpopular — 76.8 percent of residents opposed amalgamation — and failed to create the projected savings. As I’ve argued in the past, the City of Toronto, as currently constituted, is essentially ungovernable.
A milestone in public safety
Many North Americans still view cities as dangerous places. Indeed, there are some neighbourhoods in some cities (primarily American cities) that are extremely dangerous. There are also a few Canadian neighbourhoods that can be described as uncomfortable.
A “Pinko Commie” Former Toronto City Councilor Talking Sense On Taxes
Those of you who follow municipal politics may recall hearing of Adam Giambrone. Giambrone is a former chair of the Toronto Transit Commission, and former mayoral candidate. While his campaign was derailed by some relatively minor personal issues, he is still seen as a young, up and comer in Toronto’s political community. But Giambrone has penned a recent article that should remind us all that people who are derided as “pinko commies” sometimes have good ideas about economic policies.
Featured News
Fostering a Constructive, Business-Friendly Regime Sustains Innovation, Not Government Money
For standards of living to grow, productivity growth must be strong and continually renewed. That is one notion that nearly all economists can agree on. So, it is not surprising that politicians scramble to discover new or not-so-new ways to boost productivity growth....
Big Tech Influence Can Tip Elections
Behavioural psychologist Robert Epstein believes Google can and does influence voters and that research teams in Canada and elsewhere need to monitor how users are being swayed. Epstein, the former editor-in-chief of Psychology Today and founder of the American...
Learning From New Zealand’s Local Government Experience
Reforms of local government rarely, if ever are advanced by local governments themselves. Invariably reform will only occur as it did in New Zealand if higher government driven by determined reformers do it, not the units of local government themselves.
Planning for City Hall’s Next Generation of Leaders
Personnel recruitment of top rate professionals by municipalities suffers at present because local government is seen by potential employees as being both devoid of interest and unglamorous. This perception can only be changed, if with excellent leadership, municipalities rise to the challenge.
Rates Relief Could Be On Way For Households
Upcoming local government reforms in New Zealand will follow America’s lead: more than half the US states use a system where property taxes (the equivalent of rates) are capped at the cost of living plus an increase based on population growth.
Breakfast on the Frontier – Winnipeg Unicity – Nick Ternette
Breakfast on the Frontier
Big Government Not Better
The economy of scale principle does not apply to governments because governments are pyramid organizations built on layer upon expanding layer of management as the organization grows.
The Municipal Infrastructure Funding Money-go-round
Given the amount of money involved, senior levels of government and other funding agencies are entitled to insist upon better management practices in support of municipal funding proposals. The goal is a process based on uniformly better financial and asset management information and practice.
Living Wage Promises Small Benefits at a High Cost
Everyone loves to get something for nothing. That’s the reason the living wage has swept across much of the urban United States and is now getting a hearing in Calgary. Depending on an upcoming city vote, Calgary could soon be the first city in Canada to adopt this...
Media Release – A ‘Living Wage’ Won’t Kill Poverty
New Frontier Centre Policy Series Paper by Peter Shawn Taylor shows how a “living wage” policy is the wrong way to help the working-poor in Calgary.
Vancouver’s Liabilities: Eyes Wide Shut … But Who Would Know?
Canadian municipalities currently produce financial information that is deficient because of limited disclosure and accounting for liabilities. These omissions include a failure to properly account for asset costs leading to accrued asset maintenance deficits, pension fund future liabilities and environmental and disaster contingency funds. For the huge sums involved, to base major borrowing decisions upon financial information that is this complete is imprudent and may border on the reckless.