Subsidizing offshore exploration
In this article for the Monton Times & Transcript and the Halifax Daily News in 1999, Fred McMahon writes, "Count on it - no matter how badly Nova Scotia messes up the offshore, companies will bid for exploration rights where there's money to be made, and politicians will take credit for it."
Productivity and taxes
You may think of Mississippi as a desperately poor U.S. state, and it is. On almost all measures of prosperity and economic success, it ranks at the bottom or very near the bottom of all U.S. states. Canadians' after tax income is lower than Mississippians. Of course, we have superior schools and health care, among many other things, but if Mississippi continues to get richer, and Canada poorer, that too may change. Rich Mississippians will find it easier to fund these services than poor Canadians.
Newfoundland sealing videos
Fred McMahon examines the seal fishery and the "war" of videos.
Preserving old industries
The age of wooden ships and iron men was an age of gold for the powerful economies of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. But, iron ships took to the sea, and our ship-building industry rotted away. We hung on to the old, and failed the new. Like most myths, this is part fable and part truth - but it's oh, so relevant today. We still hang on to the old - at huge expense - and fail the new. Fr5ed McMahon in the The Moncton Times and Transcript and the Halifax Daily News, 1999.
Federal tax cuts?
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Wild budget swings
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The Demise of Devco
The demise of Devco is the best news to hit Nova Scotia and Cape Breton for years. And, if Ottawa lives up to its implicit commitment to Devco workers, it's great news for coal miners too. Fred McMahon in the Times and Transcript and the halifax Daily News, 1999.
Canada’s limited policy agenda
Fred McMahon looks at President Clinton's State of the Union speech and its implications for education reform.
The tragedy of Africville
Fred McMahon examines the expropriation of community property in Africville and how Canada Canada's charter of Rights and Freedoms was explicitly designed to exclude property rights.