Western premier says scales tipped against rich provinces
Appeared in the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal.
Radio: Declining Equalization Payments
All three maritime provinces rely heavily on equalization payments from the federal government to fund their programs. Ontario's emergence as a "have-not" province however has placed pressure on the equalization system and is leading to reduced equalization payments as a share of GDP in all three provinces. Last year, approximately two-thirds of all [...]
Radio: Economic Growth and Education Reform
There is a clear link between high quality public education and economic development. Outstanding public schools provide the foundation for professional and advanced skills training and are necessary for the development of an educated, competitive workforce. Governments should make use of data analysis techniques to improve public education. For example, the government in P.E.I. [...]
Radio: Sovereign Funds
No matter how well-intentioned governments are, when it comes to resource revenue they and the people who elect them, tend to spend now and think later. We need a better model to avoid large swings that affect our budgets. Saving resource revenue and using the earnings pays off, no matter what governments want [...]
Radio: Economy vs. Environment
Canada's energy sector has maintained this country inside the lines of economic prosperity at a time when the rest of the world has suffered through a severe economic crisis. Our policies need to reflect that the Atlantic region can gain significantly from energy development without sacrificing environmental standards. Yet radical environmentalists continue [...]
Radio: Money Does Buy Happiness
There's an old saying that "money can't buy happiness"- this is true, to some extent. Plenty of rich people are sad and many poor people are happy. However, considerable data shows that economic security does, all else equal, make people happier. Research from Princeton University shows that people with more money tend [...]
Checking the Math on Childcare
In his report, Checking the Math on Childcare, commissioned by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS), Ian Munro cautions Canadians about promises for a federal childcare program.
Health Care Reform Needs Public Citizens’ voice
AIMS’ authors Collins, Zitner, and Navarro-Genie argue that the way forward for meaningful healthcare reform will have to involve greater public participation.
Rural Internet access: Broadband co-ops are the way to go
Eastlink, a regional telecommunications company in Nova Scotia, has drawn sharp criticism from customers, local governments and the province for its decision to cap rural Internet packages at 15 GB/month in order to ensure equitable service for “basic Internet needs like e-mail, general web browsing, and social media.”
It’s 2015, so why can’t I email my doctor yet?
By: Dianne Kelderman and Dr. David Zitner