Education council system finally finding its feet
Recent successes see local District Education Councils (DECs) having real impact on decision-making, but AIMS President and CEO Charles Cirtwill says DECs haven't yet lived up to their intent to move to a more localized decision-making model.
‘Backbone’ needed for role, former finance minister says
A former New Brunswick cabinet minister says the departure of Mike Ferguson won't hurt the province's battle to wrestle down its huge deficit and debt. Several years ago, University of New Brunswick economics professor David Murrell analyzed the budgets of all 10 provinces for four consecutive years, in a project for AIMS. He noticed the quality of the accounting work in New Brunswick was the best of all the provinces, and he believes that strong financial reporting made New Brunswick more accountable.
University degrees boost income, but choose wisely
A university degree is still the best way to increase one's earnings over a lifetime, but new research suggests that one in five Canadian graduates end up on the lower end of the income scale. AIMS President and CEO Charles Cirtwill stresses that one is solely focused on income, there are certain choices one should make.
N.B. government orders pension plan review
NB Finance Minister Blaine Higgs is ordering a review of public-sector pension plans in the province, pledging to address the volatility the plan has faced in previous years while also analyzing its fiscal sustainability going forward. AIMS President and CEO Charles Cirtwill says the public pension review is urgent for two reasons.
Can we end unemployment?
In this op-ed, AIMS Director of Research Don McIver discusses how the consequences of population aging are finally beginning to drive mainstream economic policy, and offers some solutions.
Till the End of Time
In this commentary, AIMS Director of Research Don McIver asks, just how long should we be willing to keep MLAs in the style to which they have grown accustomed?