As Atlantic Canadians wait to hear what kind of plans the federal government has for the Atlantic gateway, AIMS acting president Charles Cirtwill observes that just handing out money won't build strong businesses.
When Halifax municipal councillors began muttering that perhaps the city had too much regulation, the Halifax Daily News turned to AIMS for comment. Acting president Charles Cirtwill says there is no doubt the city council is too quick to pass bylaws without considering enforcement, the cost or the need.
As U.S. security concerns lead to a "thickening" of the U.S.-Canadian border, trade is threatened. Charles Cirtwill, AIMS acting president, points out that the threatened trade promises to yield big gains for Atlantic Canada.
The Liberal government in New Brunswick recently announced a better than expected surplus. This comes after the government increased taxes for 2007-08. Charles Cirtwill, AIMS acting president, says that while surpluses are positive, they should trigger tax cuts and not increased spending.
As Ottawa prepares to announce funding for the Atlantic Gateway, there is some concerns being expressed. AIMS acting president Charles Cirtwill notes that a successful Atlantic Gateway will result from good marketing and key infrastructure improvements, not from politically motivated pork-barrel spending.
AIMS Intern in Security and Defence Policy Alex Wilner takes a look at the crisis in Sudan in this op/ed. He notes that there are specific short, medium and long-range goals that Canada must take to ensure that the refugee crisis is averted.
In his column for the Chronicle-Herald Alex Roberts agrees with AIMS' study "Getting the fox out of the schoolhouse" that principals should be removed from the collective bargaining unit.
Charles Cirtwill, AIMS’ acting President, examines the recent drive to encourage Nova Scotians to buy more local food. In his fortnightly column in the Chronicle-Herald he argues that a food supply plan that relies predominantly on local producers will limit consumer choice, raise costs and inhibit the industry's ability to grow. He goes on to say that Nova Scotia should take a lesson from its neighbours, forego protectionist instinct and try to expand into newer and larger markets, such as the North American organic food market.
AIMS' paper, "Getting the fox out of the schoolhouse" has generated a lot of debate across the country. In this opinion piece for the National Post Charles Cirtwill, AIMS acting president, and two of the report's co-authors argue that much of the blame for the state of education rests on our heads. Unions are responsible to their members; we are responsible as parents and citizens to represent the interests of our children. Unfortunately, we have long allowed unions to drive the education agenda and take control of the education system.
With the Canadian dollar reaching parity with the American dollar a lot of Canadians are heading south to shop. However, Charles Cirtwill, AIMS acting president, explains that once duty fees and taxes are taken into account, shopping in the U.S. may not be worth the trip.