The End of Sticker Shock?
By SYLVAIN CHARLEBOIS (Senior Fellow) Many Canadian consumers have noticed how the price of lettuce has skyrocketed in recent weeks, as has that of celery. Such fluctuations happen all the time, regardless of whether Canadians are willing to accept them. Nonetheless, technological advances could make these occurrences a thing of the past. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic these [...]
Radio: Government Tuition Subsidies
New Brunswick's Tuition Access Bursary subsidizes university or college tuition for the children of low-income households. Improving education is laudable, but this program may not achieve its goals. There is little relationship between tuition rates and enrollment. Low-income participation has been lowest in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, where tuition is least-expensive. Meanwhile, high-tuition Ontario and Nova Scotia [...]
MUN tuition increase reasonable and necessary
By ED HOLLETT (Senior Fellow) The Telegram, 2 May 2017 The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's 2017-18 budget includes a $3-million funding cut for Memorial University. The university's Board of Regents could bring in more than enough money to offset the reduction by increasing tuition fees by a mere 10 percent. Unfortunately, Advanced Education Minister Gerry Byrne is threatening the [...]
Radio: Prescriptions for Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador faces a daunting financial situation. In the upcoming budget, there are three actions we suggest to course-correct. First: reduce spending. The government spends more, per person, than every province except Alberta. Over the next five to eight years, the budget gap could be reduced by moving to the national per-capita spending average. Second: overturn tax [...]