Although well-intended, Canada’s equalization program has produced a number of unintended consequences in both have and have-not provinces.
Equalization
North’s New Gold Rush: Mining the Government: $100K for water park that’s frozen for eight months
A few years back, the Yukon territorial government allocated $660,000 to a program designed “to enhance the level of e-commerce activity in Yukon.” Two years later, the money was gone, and all the project had achieved was a rudimentary website with a brief blurb and a defunct phone number.
O Conservatives
No longer is Canada’s Conservative Party hamstrung by a minority government. On Monday, 61 percent of registered voters trekked to the polls to hand Prime Minister Stephen Harper his first clear majority in the House of Commons.
Newly Rich Newfoundland Still Enjoying Perks of its ‘Have-Not’ Past
Anyone who still believes Newfoundland is a have-not province should take a close look at its latest budget.
Featured News
What Exactly Does ‘Climate Justice’ Mean?
It seems like everything is about justice these days. Recently, as I drove home from the store, I saw a sign for the elections here in New York from the local Democratic Party, promising “equity, equality, and justice for all.” Beyond the obvious concerns any sane...
We are Finding the 2800 Missing Children
The “secret graves” and “missing children” narrative had our national flag flying at half-mast for over five months after an obscure indigenous politician made the startling claim that she “knew” that 215 indigenous children had been secretly buried in the “apple...
Selinger’s Focus on Handouts
What Manitoba needs is a strategy to reduce dependence on transfers, not increase it.
GST and Transfer Reform
Instead of lowering the GST, why not give it to the provinces in exchange for an end to federal transfer programs?
A Frontier Throne Speech
Frontier takes a shot at a throne speech – in the Canada West Foundation’s Dialogues magazine, January 2006.
Equalization Called a Drag on Productivity
OTTAWA - The fiscal framework underlying Canada's federal system -- in which wealthy provinces contribute to payments targeted for have-not provinces -- is a drag on the country's productivity growth and is in need of an overhaul, says Toronto-based economic...
Atlantic Canada’s Vicious Cycle
When will the government’s policy of federal welfare stop and allow provinces to grow & prosper? As times have changed, so should the outdated policies that have proved economically disasterous to all Canadian taxpayers.
Scrap federal transfers, and lower our taxes
A country with low tax rates will stimulate an economy, increase jobs, encourage investment and benefit its citizens.
Alberta Must Prepare for Federal Attack
The Alberta government should immediately put before the federation a formal constitutional amendment to severely restrict federal taxation and transfers.
If It’s Broke, Don’t Fix It
Equalization should not be a political issue that pits region against region. It should be a national economic issue that pits Canadians against their governments.
AIMS News Release – Good Intentions Gone Wrong
A report released today by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce provides a sobering but realistic view of the damaging impact of equalization on the nation and on Ontario itself.