AIMS Intern in Security and Defence Policy Alex Wilner takes a look at the crisis in Sudan in this op/ed. He notes that there are specific short, medium and long-range goals that Canada must take to ensure that the refugee crisis is averted.
As Ottawa prepares to announce funding for the Atlantic Gateway, there is some concerns being expressed. AIMS acting president Charles Cirtwill notes that a successful Atlantic Gateway will result from good marketing and key infrastructure improvements, not from politically motivated pork-barrel spending.
Are workers’ rights in Canada being violated by forced membership in labour unions? With Swedish human rights lawyer Jan Södergren
The Liberal government in New Brunswick recently announced a better than expected surplus. This comes after the government increased taxes for 2007-08. Charles Cirtwill, AIMS acting president, says that while surpluses are positive, they should trigger tax cuts and not increased spending.
In his column for the Chronicle-Herald Alex Roberts agrees with AIMS' study "Getting the fox out of the schoolhouse" that principals should be removed from the collective bargaining unit.
With the Canadian dollar reaching parity with the American dollar a lot of Canadians are heading south to shop. However, Charles Cirtwill, AIMS acting president, explains that once duty fees and taxes are taken into account, shopping in the U.S. may not be worth the trip.
AIMS' paper, "Getting the fox out of the schoolhouse" has generated a lot of debate across the country. In this opinion piece for the National Post Charles Cirtwill, AIMS acting president, and two of the report's co-authors argue that much of the blame for the state of education rests on our heads. Unions are responsible to their members; we are responsible as parents and citizens to represent the interests of our children. Unfortunately, we have long allowed unions to drive the education agenda and take control of the education system.
Charles Cirtwill, AIMS’ acting President, examines the recent drive to encourage Nova Scotians to buy more local food. In his fortnightly column in the Chronicle-Herald he argues that a food supply plan that relies predominantly on local producers will limit consumer choice, raise costs and inhibit the industry's ability to grow. He goes on to say that Nova Scotia should take a lesson from its neighbours, forego protectionist instinct and try to expand into newer and larger markets, such as the North American organic food market.
AIMS' recent report, "Drug Re-Importation in North America and Europe: An Overview" is getting noticed on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. The report, written by Brian Ferguson, AIMS Fellow in Health Care Economics, elicited the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America to issue a statement warning Americans that foreign drugs aren't safe. AIMS Director of Research Ian Munro goes on to note that such plans may have an impact on the drug supply in Canada and cause shortages.
A renewed look at drug re-importation