Part 3 of a 6-part series examining the impact the construction of two heavy oil upgraders during Saskatchewan’s Grant Devine Government. The discussion hails from the recently published Frontier Centre book “So Much More We Can Be: Saskatchewan’s Paradigm Shift and...
Results for "size of government"
Manitoba’s PC Government Half Billion Annual Hydro Heist
Before a NDP government and it’s politically appointed Manitoba Hydro board faded out after the Pallister Conservatives won in 2016, it was generally accepted by all political parties, and the media, that Hydro’s then ultra-low electricity rates were “Manitoba’s...
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....
The Gig Economy from Yards to Governments
My landlord friend had a problem and the solution was so novel he had to tell me about it. He lives in Winnipeg, but his house tenant in Regina couldn’t remove snow from the property. Not long ago, finding someone to deal with that might have been difficult or...
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Weaponizing the Law
The indictment of former U.S. president Donald Trump for crimes invented by his political opponents is the most egregious example yet seen of the weaponizing of the law. The United States is now full of examples. However, in Canada, we also see the law being...
“Looking At” Seizing Control Over Western Canada’s Natural Resources
OTTAWA, REGINA - Last week, two things happened that could have profound impacts on natural resources development in Saskatchewan. One is a hint the federal government might want to take control of natural resources away from the provinces, and the other is the...
Mid-Sized Cities Can Attract Tourists by Being Themselves
People flock to major cities to take advantage of unique experiences. In theory, most of the types of activities tourists seek out can be replicated most anywhere, but people are willing to pay a large premium and go out of their way to see a show on Broadway, or eat...
Crown Corporations and Government Divestment
Executive Summary In 2011, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) conducted a study of 27 member countries to assess the size of the national government-run enterprise sector. The study examined the number, employment and economic value of...
Governments busy doing business?
Governments have always had a tendency to claim new responsibilities and new regulatory powers. They have also proven to be tenacious business owners. Once Crown corporations are created and have met their purpose, politicians seem to find it hard to let them go and...
Frontier Centre Releases Crown Corporations and Government Divestment
Today, the Frontier Centre for Public Policy issued: Crown Corporations & Government Divestment authored by Jan Pavel. Many Canadian Crown corporations were divested in late 1980s and 1990s. Two decades later, a large majority of the privatizations have proven to...
Agenda for Detroit: Government on a more human scale
Contrary to the popular view, Detroit is not the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. New York City had filed for bankruptcy in 1975 before the process was stopped by a last-minute deal between city officials and municipal unions. There were 10 times as...
It’s Not About the Class Size in Calgary Schools
Calgary's municipal election on Monday saw at least two new trustees elected to Calgary Board of Education (CBE). Waiting for them is a slew of concerns ranging from how money is spent to transparency to the apparent 'big issue' of class sizes. But, the recent debate...
A Frontier Conversation with Leonard Gilroy, Director of Government Reform, Reason Foundation
A Frontier Conversation with Leonard Gilroy. Frontier Centre: Briefly can you describe the traditional procurement process? Leonard Gilroy: In a traditional procurement process for infrastructure, you tend to see a lot of bifurcation of the steps along the way. You...
Evidence Suggests Windfall Government Revenue Worsens Corruption
A study published in this month’s American Economic Review demonstrates that increased federal transfers to municipalities in Brazil lead to increased corruption. While one can quibble over whether the effect is as strong in more developed countries, the results are precisely what should be expected, given the incentives facing politicians.
Hydro’s $20-billion Gamble May Bankrupt Manitoba: Selinger Government is Rolling the Dice
Today, Graham Lane, the former Chair of the Manitoba Public Utilities Board, will give a special address to a sold-out audience assessing the expansion of Manitoba Hydro’s Hydro-electric Generation and Transmission Capacity.