While these proposed reforms will be seen as very scary by our cautious ruling political class, they must still be seen for what they are. We need to look at the tweaks purportedly being considered as more patches on a very patched up and dysfunctional transfer payment system.
Equalization
Feds Should Fix Equalization
Anyone with even a fleeing memory of Saskatchewan’s former battles with Ottawa over equalization might consider Premier Brad Wall utterly mad even for mentioning the topic today, let alone express concern about the federal program.
Alberta and Ontario Must Work Together To Fix Fiscal Federalism in Canada
The result has been that, in some important respects, governments of the traditional “have-not” provinces have been able to provide public services that are more expansive and accessible than what is available to residents of Alberta, BC and Ontario.
PQ Secretly laughing about Harper Government’s Naive Transfers Policy?
The taxpayer should be free to withhold financial assistance to a welfare recipient who says he doesn’t want to work even if he is able to . . .
Featured News
Promote Equity by Providing a Quality Education
Earlier this year, a group called Equity Matters asked the province to establish an education equity secretariat. They want this office to oversee equity officers working in Manitoba schools. Equity Matters wants to ensure that all Manitoba students are reflected in...
Why Frances Widdowson Matters
Frances Widdowson probably isn't someone most Canadians recognize. I'm here to tell you why they should. In terms of Canada's intellectual culture, Frances Widdowson matters because she is a classic and prolific academic. In a time when demagoguery easily flourishes,...
EI Favours East Coast, Study Finds: Ontario, West ‘left to fend for
“The situation for Canada as a whole wasn’t much better. Only 46% of unemployed Canadians received EI benefits during the recession of 2008-09, compared with 71% and 76% in the recessions of 1981-82 and 1990-91, the study found.”
A Disguised Welfare Scheme: EI isn’t an insurance program. It’s an interregional transfer of wealth
“That means EI isn’t an insurance program, despite its name. It is both a tax on employment and an inter-regional transfer of wealth. If it were truly an insurance program, premiums would be charged according to the likelihood a worker would make a claim.”
It’s all Greek to Quebec
“Equalization in Canada was established to ensure that “have-not” regions could enjoy the same programs as “have” regions and most Canadians wouldn’t quibble with that. But that has not happened. In fact, the reverse has occurred. The have provinces have fewer services than the have-nots.”
Ted Morton: Counterpoint — Putting Equalization on the Table
“Far from “demonizing” the concept of equalization, Alberta is simply hoping to initiate a constructive dialogue aimed at improving the program in a way that benefits provinces across Canada, not just Alberta.”
Cheap Hydro is Wrong On At Least Two Counts
“It’s not every day that a government manages to be wrong in two different ways on the same issue at the same time.” More equalization mischief . . . Editorial observes that Quebec keeps its electricity prices low because raising them will trim its equalization payments.
Nova Scotia’s Public Sector Excesses Borne by Other Canadians
In his recent attack on a study on equalization by the Frontier Centre or Public Policy (Weekend Feedback: Attack on Equalization Off Base, March 27), John Malcom, chief executive officer of the Cape Breton District Health Authority makes a number of errors.
Persichilli: Be careful what you wish for, Monsieur Duceppe: Bloc leader might well find Canadians quite willing to cut spendthrift Quebec adrift
Bloc leader might well find Canadians quite willing to cut spendthrift Quebec adrift.
Equalization Is Indeed a Problem: Our recent critics are wrong
The critics of equalization reform keep getting it wrong: Fact is, federal transfers prop up bad provincial policy.
Punishing Productivity: Comparing equalization programs in Australia and Canada
A new Frontier study finds that unlike in Canada, equalization in Australia at least takes into account the cost of delivering services in each jurisdiction.