Purdy Crawford named Chairman Emeritus of AIMS
Did more than any other single person to ensure the success of AIMS - Crowley
My Vision for the Canada-US Relationship: A talk by The Hon. John Manley
AIMS Economic Leadership Speaker Series welcomes Canada's Deputy Prime Minister to discuss Canada's US agenda.
AIMS On-Line for mid May 2002
Here is what's new at AIMS, Atlantic Canada's Public Policy Think Tank
Shedding light on the university tuition debate
Who pays and who benefits from our massive public spending on universities and colleges? In this article, AIMS author and intern John Philippe, continues to analyse the costs and benefits of a post-secondary education to both the individual who acquires that education, and the society that finances the greatest portion of the cash cost. Following-up to his enlightening report, “What’s a Degree Worth: Who Pays and Who Benefits at Atlantic Canada’s Universities?”, Phillipe argues in part that it only makes sense for students, as the major beneficiaries of their education, to bear a greater share of the costs than they currently do. He also discusses how the current regime of relatively uniform tuition levels across disciplines and levels of study is wasteful in that it prohibits universities from shifting money to the areas that are in highest demand. Publication: CHH & GC, May 14, 2002
New Brunswick myopic on energy regulation
Natural Gas in Atlantic Canada has already brought many hundreds of millions of dollars to our economy with new supplies, technology, and investment into the region. Unfortunately, New Brunswick is trying to change the rules in the middle of the game — rules on which a lot of this investment was based, — and introduce regulatory barriers to companies wishing to export to consumers in New England. AIMS President, Brian Lee Crowley suggests in his regular column that the whim of politicians trying to win votes by artificially driving up supply and lowering gas costs could be scaring away potential investors, restricting access to vital U.S. markets, and once again blindsiding the offshore industry with their short-sighted vision of the offshore’s future. Publication: CHH & MTT May 8 2002
AIMS addresses Commons Committee on Equalization
On May 8, 2002, the prestigious Commons Finance Committee organized a special roundtable on Equalization. AIMS President Brian Lee Crowley, was one of three nationally-recognized authorities invited to spend an afternoon with the Committee to discuss the workings of this huge but arcane programme. In his formal remarks to the MPs, Crowley argued that after nearly half a century and over $180 billion, equalization has become a major obstacle to our country's goal of closing the economic disparity gap between the developed and less-developed provinces. Citing examples such as Newfoundland's handling of Voisey's Bay and Nova Scotia's handling of potential offshore gas revenues, Crowley argues that equalization not only subsidizes poor economic policy and democratic irresponsibility in our government's, but also taxes productive economic activity in the least developed parts of the country.
AIMS On-Line for early May 2002
Here is what's new at AIMS, Atlantic Canada's Public Policy Think Tank
Operating in the Dark – AGAIN and AGAIN
This article features Dr. David Zitner, AIMS’ Fellow in Health Care Policy, criticizing BC Premier Gordon Campbell for joining the ranks of other Canadian politicians who are blindly implementing major health care policy without the right information or concrete direction. Drawing from the influential AIMS’ report, Public Health, State Secret, Dr. Zitner stresses that experts, decision makers, and the general public lack crucial information about access to and the actual result of care in this country. This absence of vital information stems from the Canadian government’s monopolistic control over our health care. Publication: VS & OC, May 6, 2002
User Fees for Health Care in Sweden
Johan Hjertqvist discusses the utility and effects of user fees in the Swedish health care system. The investigation explores several different aspects of health care including: general practitioners, dental services, elderly care and pharmaceuticals.
Fishing For EI; How The Fishing Industry Paralyses Rural Newfoundland
Peter Fenwick, former AIMS Director of Communications, has revised this commentary piece, originally published in August 2001. In it he argues that Newfoundland needs to replace its “stamp up” fishery - a fishery designed to provide enough work to secure EI for the workers - with a fishery that is sustainable and productive. In order to achieve that one hundred fish plants will have to close. More to the point, these plants must close at the earliest possible moment in order to give rural Newfoundlanders a chance to rebuild. To allow the closures to happen gradually as plant workers retire (apparently the current strategy of the Newfoundland government) will simply mean that new endeavours will not have the workforce necessary for development - denying rural Newfoundland the more promising future such new endeavours could provide.