A Nobel prize-winning economist who clarified the role of property rights and transaction costs in the economy has died. Ronald Coase, the winner of the Nobel Prize in economics in 1991, has died. He was 102 years old. Coase is known for his pioneering the idea that...
Property Rights
Rethinking Marijuana Prohibition
After police chiefs across Canada last week passed a resolution to dedicate additional resources to officers pursuing individuals in possession of marijuana, I was left wondering one thing: Why do Canada’s police chiefs refuse to support the legalization of pot? The...
Canadians need good information about water markets
A new column by the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) shows how politics is preventing water from reaching communities in southern California that desperately need it. In short, the column promotes water markets and pricing as superior to politics when...
Property rights still in jeopardy at border
A Saskatchewan couple is still discovering that property rights are precarious when it comes to the Canada-United States border. A saga pitting a Saskatchewan couple against a federal agency may soon be coming to a sad conclusion. Edwin and Alison Morris were informed...
Featured News
The Man who Saved the Plains Indians
At the time of Confederation, Canada’s Plains Indians were in a desperate situation. The same European-introduced guns and horses that resulted in a briefly glorious golden age for them had also resulted in constant inter-tribal warfare and the rapid disappearance of...
Renewed Talk of Abolishing the Indian Act
Political attacks on the Indian Act are back in the news, and that is a good thing. However, Canadian politicians, including First Nation politicians, need a credible plan about what to do before we pull out the champagne. Attacking the Indian Act is not a big deal...
Debate needed on property rights
JOSEPH QUESNEL, For the Winnipeg Sun
The Manitoba government’s attempt to seize the home of an accused sex predator is raising eyebrows in many quarters.
The civil suit states the home was instrumental in allowing the sexual abuse of a preteen girl.
What is interesting from a legal standpoint is Manitoba’s Criminal Property Forfeiture Act is mainly used to seize property involved in drug houses, grow-op operations, and the cars drug dealers use.
It is arguable seizing property of a sex predator is a step up from seizing property used in drug activities. In the case of the predator, they are harming someone tangibly.
People choose to come and buy drugs. Yes, many are addicted to hard drugs, but there is the choice to seek help and break the addiction.
Robert Nault, Former Minister of Indian Affairs
“That’s where I think the Frontier Centre for Public Policy really does make a big difference. You guys are out there saying go ahead and do it, here’s what you need to do and here’s why it’s important. I think more and more leaders are seeing what happens when you do do that. There are enough examples now of successful First Nations that you can’t say it’s not possible or they’re not capable. I think the next step is for people to grab on to it in a larger way and move quicker because they’re missing a lot of great opportunities and we’re missing a whole generation if we don’t move faster than we are now.”
Dr. Tom Flanagan, Professor of Political Science, University of Calgary and Co-Author of Beyond the Indian Act: Restoring Aboriginal Property Rights
Conversation with the co-author of Beyond the Indian Act: Restoring Aboriginal Property Rights which proposes a legislation to make it possible for First Nations, on a voluntary basis, to take collective ownership of their land reserves and also to create ownership in fee simple for individuals.
Discussing the Elephant in the Room: Indian Property Rights: New book calls for the economic advancement of First Nations
A new book by a group of scholars presents convincing arguments for a functional property rights regime on First Nation reserves as a means of elevating this community out of poverty.
Province Grinds Down Honest Family
“Governments must be restrained from dedicating public money and power to crush their citizens. The Charter fetters police powers and legislation, but what impedes government from applying its unlimited resources to harass us into poverty in civil court?”
USA 15th in Property Rights Protections. Behind…Finland?
“The U.S. is in the top 20 percent worldwide when it comes to protecting all sorts of property rights. But before we get all self-congratulatory, consider the chart on page 28, where you will find the good ol’ USA ranks 15th…behind Finland, Singapore, Austria, Denmark, Canada and others.”
Media Release – 2010 International Property Rights Index: Canada outranks USA; but Improvements Needed: Finland scores highest in protection of property; Canada at 12th place but has no constitutional guarantees for property
In 2010, Canada ranks as the highest country in the Western hemisphere for protection of property, according to a new international study.
2010 International Property Rights Index: Canada outranks USA; but Improvements Needed
The Frontier Centre for Public Policy, along with the International Property Rights Alliance, released the 2010 International Property Rights Index. The Index, measures the protection of property rights in 125 countries.
Land Regulation, Expropriation and Appropriation Laws in Alberta
Further research and creative remedies will be needed if Alberta’s landowners are not to pay a disproportionate price for infrastructure and environmental regulation.