Radio: Tobacco Tax Exemptions (2)
Federal and provincial legislation exempts First Nations reserves from several forms of taxation. Unfortunately, most governments have not examined the cost of this policy, estimated at $1.3 billion across Canada. The largest tax exemption, is for tobacco. From PEI reserves in 2015, the value of the cigarette loophole was over a million dollars, even though PEI has less [...]
Radio: Newfoundland Mill
In a new deal, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will help to fund employee pensions at the Corner Brook paper mill. It's the latest in a string of deals for the mill, worth some some 250-million dollars. In this case, government intentions are good, but mistaken. The litany of failed businesses that have received government handouts and [...]
Calorie counting is bad science
By PATRICK LUCIANI (AIMS Senior Fellow) Financial Post, 19 June 2017 Ontario is forcing restaurants to post calorie counts when studies show that doesn’t work in getting people to eat healthy or lose weight Last month, after Ontario mandated calorie counting on restaurant menus, Freshii Inc., the Toronto-based salads-soups-and-wraps healthy-eating chain, balked. The chain’s motto is “count nutrients, not calories.” But [...]
Let student enrolment determine teacher hires
By MICHAEL ZWAAGSTRA (AIMS Research Fellow) The Guardian, 15 June 2017 Journal Pioneer, 16 June 2017 Troy Media, 19 June 2017 There have been many twists and turns in the P.E.I. education system these past few weeks. Pending teacher cuts gave way to an increase of 27 full-time equivalent teaching positions across the Island. Unfortunately, this policy is completely counter-intuitive. The [...]
Radio: New Brunswick teacher Hires
New Brunswick's school enrollment is declining. Logically, fewer students should need fewer people to teach them. Instead, government has agreed employ no fewer than 7,280 teachers, regardless of enrollment decline. This decision will be expensive. The Province already spends 3,000 dollars more, per student, than it did last decade. With fewer students and more instructors, this spending will [...]
Pierre Lemieux on “Le Réveil” (Radio-Canada)
On June 7, 2017, AIMS Author Pierre Lemieux joined Jean-Albert Maire of Radio-Canada to discuss his latest paper, The Benefits of Trade. The interview is in French. http://www.aims.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Lemieux_Radio_Canada_Free_Trade_Jun_7_17.mp3