Who should benefit from natural gas? Our kids
In a recent Halifax speech, Jim Dinning, former Provincial Treasurer in Alberta, told all Nova Scotians the hard truths about natural resource revenues: non-renewable "natural resource revenues are non-reliable revenues" and "Natural resource wealth doesn't belong just to this generation. It belongs to our children and our children's children."
Nova Scotia takes AIMS’ advice on school testing
Education Minister's new Action Plan will improve accountability for education results but more needs to be done.
Of school tests and teacher union testiness
In this column, AIMS President Brian Lee Crowley comes to the defence of Teachers Union President Brian Forbes against too hasty critics who say Forbes is quarrelling with the very notion of the usefulness of testing in the schools. Crowley cites three significant areas of agreement between the latest AIMS research paper “Testing and Accountability: The Keys to Educational Excellence in Atlantic Canada” and Mr. Forbes’s recent article criticizing AIMS, published in the Chronicle Herald. To see why Crowley and Forbes can agree that that testing has its place in the public schools, that the tests have to be interpreted in the context of the individual school and that testing alone is not enough go to: http://aims.wpengine.com/Media/2002/prmar1302.htm Publication: CHH, March 13, 2002
AIMS On-Line for late March 2002
Here is what's new at AIMS, Atlantic Canada's Public Policy Think Tank
Electricity restructuring, the Kyoto Accord, and clean coal technology
Three challenges for the Canadian Economy
Managing Oil and Gas Wealth: Lessons from the Alberta Trenches
Former Alberta Treasurer Jim Dinning speaks to AIMS Luncheon about managing the ups and downs of a resource based economy
N.B. Electricity Rates Must Go Up
Is Point Lepreau Candu Power station fit for re-fit? Tom Adams, executive director of Energy Probe and noted AIMS author, doesn’t think so. NB Power is currently seeking permission from the provincial Public Utilities Board and the government to invest $845 million and extend the station’s life expectancy. Before its financial collapse in 1997, Ontario Hydro made a failed attempt at a similar project on four Pickering, ON reactors, which was one of the main causes for the overall company’s eventual downfall. Adams warns of an even more severe impact on New Brunswick if the Point Lepreau re-fit fails. Adams forecasts rate hikes as high as 30% for New Brunswick electricity customers, which has the potential to worsen if the reactor falls short of its new aggressive production targets.
Testy about testing? The NSTU debates AIMS on standardized testing in the schools
On 27 February, 2002, AIMS President Brian Lee Crowley published a column addressing the need for improved standardized testing in Atlantic Canada. The column reflected the findings in AIMS’ newest research paper, “Testing & Accountability: The Keys to Educational Excellence in Atlantic Canada”. Crowley argued that well designed and properly administered standardized tests can provide a valuable measure of both student achievement and instructional effectiveness, but they cannot be used as the sole measure of either. On the other hand, without such tests, the school system cannot be held properly accountable for the results that it is producing. And higher standards of accountability are something that the public schools need.
AIMS On-Line for mid March 2002
Here is what's new at AIMS, Atlantic Canada's Public Policy Think Tank
What’s a Degree Worth?
Atlantic Canadian taxpayers invest substantial sums in our region’s universities, but what value are they actually receiving in return for their investment?