The Beacon – April 2016 (Vol XXII, No. 9)
The Beacon - April 2016 | Volume XXII, No. 9 Changes to Employment Insurance Last week, I was asked to speak to a group of fiery young Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs, who were meeting in Shediac, New Brunswick. People in business are typically concerned - as they should be - with their bottom line. The more so during budget season. But there was [...]
Provincial investment could turn into a shipwreck or lifeline, critics say
In a story about the Bas-Caraquet shipyard bailout in New Brunswick, the Telegraph-Journal quotes AIMS Vice-President of Research John Williamson, who argues that this "smacks of a risky government bailout." Read the full story at the Telegraph-Journal website. By John Chilibeck, Legislature Bureau The Liberals’ decision to bail out the foundering small-boat shipyard on the Acadian Peninsula is raising questions over [...]
Radio: Better Healthcare Accountability
Healthcare is the largest expense in provincial budgets and a hugely important public service. But our system lacks accountability: little to no attention is paid to health outcomes, which would tell us how effective our health system is working, where improvements could be made, and where costs could be lowered. Citizens should insist that governments report fully on the effectiveness [...]
Free tuition in other provinces virtually inevitable: student leader
In a Canadian Press story about university costs, AIMS researcher Jackson Doughart says that while eliminating tuition is a bad idea, targeting subsidies to students from low-income families makes sense. HALIFAX — New Brunswick’s recent decision to follow Ontario’s lead by covering tuition for college and university students from lower income families has prompted a student leader to suggest it’s [...]
Nova Scotia 2016 budget: take care of the small things
In Halifax's Chronicle Herald, AIMS President & CEO Marco Navarro-Génie argues that governments often sit around waiting for a big "silver bullet" to come and save their economies. With reference to the forthcoming Nova Scotia budget, government should focus on smaller but incremental ways to improve competitiveness and market certainty. Read the full piece in the Chronicle Herald. Budget season [...]
EI changes undo Conservative, Liberal reforms
In New Brunswick's Telegraph-Journal, AIMS Vice-President of Research John Williamson explains how recent changes to Canada's employment insurance system undo the reforms of both the last Conservative government and the preceding Liberal one. The consequence will be a further enticement of young people away from school and full-time work. Read the article at the Telegraph-Journal here. The Trudeau government made [...]