AIMS // Atlantic Institute for Market Studies

Weighing in on the renewed debate over whether Nova Scotia should deregulate gas prices, AIMS President and CEO Charles Cirtwill says regulation leads to bigger profits for gas stations, oil companies and the provincial government.

A dispute brewing over natual gas distribution and costs in New Brunswick is an example of what happens when government interfers. In this article, AIMS President & CEO explains what went wrong.

This article looks at the reasons behind the cancellation of the planned LNG plant in Nova Scotia including comments by AIMS author Angela Tu Weissenberger.

This article in the Chronicle Herald looks at offshore oil revenues and the effect on the economy.

This article in the Telegraph Journal, AIMS President and CEO comments on the planned annoucement regarding regional energy co-operation between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

This article in the Chronicle Herald, AIMS President and CEO comments on the planned annoucement regarding regional energy co-operation between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

As NB Power unveiled its new strategic plan, AIMS president & CEO Charles Cirtwill explained what steps the utility should take to make use of its geographic location and take advantage of private interest.

When the deal to sell NB Power to Hydro Quebec fell through, the Telegraph Journal called AIMS President & CEO Charles Cirtwill to provide an opinion piece.

In this op-ed in the Telegraph-Journal, AIMS author Gordon L. Weil suggests there is a way to improve the porposed sale of NB Power assets to Hydro Quebec. Weil's Commentaries for AIMS have driven much of the policy discussion around the controversial MOU.

This op-ed by AIMS President and CEO Charles Cirtwill appeared in newspapers in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. He explains that people appear to be ignoring one issue in the hoopla over the prposed sale of NB Power to Hydro Quebec - it's an MOU. He points out there's still time to clean up the deal, or to get a new offer on the table.

As speculation mounts that Quebec Hydro is going to buy NB Power, AIMS incoming President Charles Cirtwill has a warning. He says while New Brunswick should privatize the utility, selling it to another province's crown corporation would not be good for New Brunswickers.

This editorial in the Calgary Herald uses AIMS' work on non-renewable resource revenues to make its point. AIMS has repeatedly published material that tells Governments revenues from non-renewable resources (such as oil & gas) should not be squandered on day to day operations.

Everyone seems to be raging against the oil companies these days over the price of gasoline. This Commentary by AIMS Founding President Brian Lee Crowley sheds light on the true economics of oil pricing.

Energy consultant William Marshall weighs in on the latest deal to sell NB Power assets to Hydro Quebec.

The modified New Brunswick - Quebec Memorandum of Understanding on NB Power by Gordon L. Weil

At the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Gas Association in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, AIMS President Brian Lee Crowley made the case that while some believe that Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have opposing interests in natural gas, nothing could be further from the truth. Both would benefit more from increased gas exploration and development, and both would be harmed by a premature extension of the national gas distribution grid to uneconomic areas.

Last Friday could have been the start of the end for regulated oil prices in Newfoundland and Labrador says Peter Fenwick, AIMS’ voice on Newfoundland and Labrador. Last Friday Western Petroleum forced the politically appointed Newfoundland oil pricing commissioner to increase the price of a litre of gasoline by 5.8 cents, a full two weeks early. It was only a brief reprieve for the largest independent gasoline chain in the province, but it may signal the end of the Petroleum Pricing Commission. Western Petroleum is a local home grown company that is trying to compete with some of the largest companies in the world. That in itself is difficult. But when you have to take on your own government in the guise of a politically appointed commissioner who wants you to sell for less than your costs, your job is that much harder. Read Fenwick’s commentary to see why, ultimately, the best solution is to eliminate the Petroleum Pricing Commissioner entirely.

As AIMS Fellow on Newfoundland Issues, Peter Fenwick says in this new piece, in 1996 Voisey's Bay discoverers Al Chislett and Chris Verbiski were Canadian prospectors of the year; feted in their home province of Newfoundland, and given honourary degrees from Memorial University. They were the home-grown boys who would lead Newfoundland to prosperity. But that most-favored-son status didn't last long. Today their exploration company, Archean has the dubious distinction of being the highest taxed company in Canada. The two prospectors are now considering moving their company to a lower taxation province.

In this op-ed, AIMS contributor Gordon L. Weil explains how New Brunswick's provincial power policy is looking inward after Hydro-Quebec, abandoning a past emphasis on power exports and regional cooperation.

AIMS President and CEO Charles Cirtwill says the power rates freeze in New Brunswick is only putting off what the government will eventually need to finance upgrades and changes to the energy system.

The Atlantic Institute for Market Studies estimates that across our region, consumers have paid $155 million more than if gasoline markets had remained unregulated.

The proposed agreement by Emera and Nalcor to develop the Muskrat Falls hydro project on the Lower Churchill drew applause from AIMS author Gordon Weil. However, in this op-ed that appeared in several papers around the region, Weil says there's more the region can do to improve electrical transmission.

AIMS' author Gordon Weil has been a popular commentator on all things electrical in Atlantic Canada haven written extensively on the topic for the Institute. This op-ed appeared in papers around the region explaining the need the a regional power market and giving kudos for the progress that has been made in recent months.

The agreement between Emera and the Newfoundland and Labrador government to development the first phase of the Lower Churchill hydro project is welcome news. AIMS President & CEO Charles Cirtwill explains how this is resource royalties spent well.

In this op-ed that appeared in numerous Atlantic newspapers, AIMS' author Gordon Weil provides tips on how governments can do the energy deals even better.

AIMS' Commentary on the need to reform regulations covering the interprovincial and international transmission of electricity made the front page of the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal.

In this op-ed AIMS President & CEO Charles Cirtwill explains why paying more for energy makes sense. He says making us pay the true cost for electricity will make us all more frugal in how we use it, and add to the money to the public purse.

In this op-ed energy consultant Gordon Weil explains why Canada needs a regulator for the electricity industry, and he says there is a structure in place that can handle it - the National Energy Board.

AIMS President and CEO Charles Cirtwill explains the value of a panel review of the sale of NB assets to Hydro Quebec. He says it can help the discussion by laying out the advantages and concerns.

AIMS President & CEO Charles Cirtwill is asked to weigh in with academics on the handling by the provincial government of the proposed sale of NB Power to Hydro Quebec.

Energy consultant William Marshall continues his comment on the latest proposal to sell NB Power assets to Hydro Quebec.

The latest Weil analysis of the deal to sell NB Power to Hydro Quebec published by AIMS made it to the floor of the New Brunswick legislature. This story relates the exchange between opposition MLAs and Energy Minister Jack Keir including his opinion of the latest analysis.

Again the Weil analysis published by AIMS of the proposed sale of NB Power assets is used to explain postential concerns with the deal.

Why do politicians so consistently get electricity policy wrong? Economic truth is often politically unpopular, and politicians have been only too willing to pander to voters' desire for artificially cheap electricity and unjustified massive construction projects today by storing up far worse electricity prices and massive debt for tomorrow. New Brunswick is the latest province to have reached a crisis because there are no more quick fixes. The noose is tightening, but the provincial government and New Brunswick Power seem determined to pretend that the rope is nothing but the latest fashion in neckties.

As AIMS President Brian Lee Crowley writes in his bi-monthly newspaper column, everyone hates paying high prices for gasoline and heating oil. They hit the poor harder than everybody else; they wreak havoc with family and business budgets. Perhaps worst of all, they seem to happen without rhyme or reason, like bolts of lightning out of a clear winter sky. Quite understandably, then, these price rises provoke fear, anger and suspicion of the oil and gas companies that are their authors. But before we rush off to embrace the responses that many people propose to solve this problem, we had better be sure exactly what the problem is and what all the consequences would be of, say, letting governments fix the price of gas.

Newfoundland & Labrador’s Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening our Place in Canada is popularly known as the Blame Canada Commission. In this column AIMS President, Brian Lee Crowley, outlines how Ottawa could significantly address the areas where it does, in fact, bear an important share of the blame for Newfoundland’s woes.

AIMS publishes response to Weil analysis of NB Power MOU

Is gas price regulation worth the millions we pay?

Assertions of “inaccuracies” and “errors” do not stand up under scrutiny

Closer U.S. ties would create jobs, provide more choice, and promote prosperity

Utility still not dealing with substantive issues facing New Brunswickers in power policy

AIMS and ECANS present an update on how power markets are evolving, what it means for this region - and which region is the “right” one for electricity purposes.

Three challenges for the Canadian Economy

Former Alberta Treasurer Jim Dinning speaks to AIMS Luncheon about managing the ups and downs of a resource based economy

The White House Comes to AIMS: David Frum on Canada-US relations, why educators are blame AIMS for their own problems plus Brian Lee Crowley on natural gas distribution and the danger of opting for cheap pills now versus new drugs tomorrow.

New thinking key to Newfoundland prosperity, an excerpt from Mark Milke’s new book, Tax Me I’m Canadian – Your Money and How Politicians Spend It and Australia looks to AIMS for analysis of Equalization.

AIMS launches ACOA WATCH, AIMS in La Presse on sustainable growth and more.