In this 1999 column in the Chronicle Herald, Fred McMahon writes "Many historians claim Confederation's trade barriers devastated the Maritime economy, and there's some truth in that. Yet, the Maritimes' great prosperity and worldwide trading links were almost certainly destined for ruin anyway, as was Halifax's status as a world-class trading centre."
Fred McMahon examines the controversy around a public ceremony featuring an actor playing Col. Edward Cornwallis over the objections of aboriginal leaders.
Prior to the 1999 Nova Scotia election, AIMS Senior Policy Analyst writes, "Regardless of Nova Scotians' views on deficit spending, voters in the upcoming election in this province should be outraged about the tricks Russell MacLellan's government has played with the budgeting process over the 14 months since it was elected."
Brian Lee Crowley back from Globe and Mail
In this article for the Monton Times & Transcript and the Halifax Daily News in 1999, Fred McMahon writes, "Count on it - no matter how badly Nova Scotia messes up the offshore, companies will bid for exploration rights where there's money to be made, and politicians will take credit for it."
Under a competitive regime, the marketplace itself will determine an efficient outcome for the post-secondary education system in Canada.
You may think of Mississippi as a desperately poor U.S. state, and it is. On almost all measures of prosperity and economic success, it ranks at the bottom or very near the bottom of all U.S. states. Canadians' after tax income is lower than Mississippians. Of course, we have superior schools and health care, among many other things, but if Mississippi continues to get richer, and Canada poorer, that too may change. Rich Mississippians will find it easier to fund these services than poor Canadians.