Canada’s outdated and inefficient fiscal arrangements are cheating Ontario taxpayers and undermining the nation’s productivity, warns a new study.
Equalization
Dollars and Sense: A Case for Modernizing Canada’s Transfer Agreements
In a paper published by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Centre Senior Fellow David MacKinnon examines the flaws and unintended consequences of Canada’s equalization program. MacKinnon shows that Canada’s current approach to equalization is damaging to all of the provinces, including those that receive large equalization payments.
Time to Overhaul Equalization
With Ontario clamouring for change to Canada’s equalization payment system and even beneficiaries in Atlantic Canada questioning its worth, the time is ripe for an overhaul of what has become an antiquated model of fiscal federalism, which rewards failure and punishes success.
Ontario Gearing up for Renewed Fight with Ottawa Over Equalization
Ontario is gearing up for a battle with Ottawa over equalization after a new report by a leading business group slammed the national program for failing to level the playing field between Canada’s “have” and “have-not” provinces and territories.
Featured News
Military Conquest is Meaningless Without True Social Renewal
The hasty, defeatist and craven withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan in August has compelled the so-called “civilized” Western nations and their leaders to confront the failures and errors of the past 20 years, which resemble those of earlier conflicts....
What Life Looks Like Outside COVID-19 Hysteria
Travel and work over the past two years have brought me to many different jurisdictions. What continues to strike me is the way the responses to COVID-19 have been varied, arbitrary and often draconian. I look back at Canada and see raging debates over mask mandates,...
Drowning in a sea of structural funds?
“It’s when you hear people seriously suggesting that Portugal should fiddle its official statistics, so that we are still rated poor enough to qualify for European subsidies, that you wonder if this has gone too far” – The Economist looks at the debilitating effects of regional aid… obvious parallels in Canada…
Australians Agree with Canadian Equalization Analysis
In searching for analysis of comparative models of fiscal equalization between federal and state governments in a federation, the review commissioners looked to the award winning equalization initiative done jointly by 3 independent Canadian think tanks.
Equalization: Help that Hurts
The federal equalization program — which distributes dollars to poorer provinces based on their ability to raise revenues — is rather simple in theory and noble in intent.
A Conversation with the Hon. Frank McKenna
New Brunswick is usually thought of as successful in economic terms since a more vibrant private sector emerged during your oversight of that province.
Award-Winning Institutes Release New Equalization Series
Fresh from winning a prestigious international prize for their innovative work on Canada’s equalization programme.
Equalization’s Good Intentions Not Enough
A conference hears evidence that equalization allows the receiving provinces to not focus on the basics of good public policy like creating an attractive tax and regulatory environment.
Ideas Matter – Equalization – Welfare Trap?
A special joint publication of the Frontier Centre, AIMS and the Montreal Institute
A Conversation with Paul Martin
Frontier interviews Canada’s finance minister Paul Martin.
A Better Way to Help the Have-Nots
Has the Finance Minister finally seen the light? Or has he succumbed to the spirit of the season.