AIMS // Atlantic Institute for Market Studies

Millions and millions of dollars are spent each year on the collection of health care data. This paper reveals that the collection may be happening, but using that information to actually improve the Canadian health care system is not happening.

Economist Don McIver takes a look at the global economic meltdown, the recovery and the consequences.

Atlantic Canadians know more today about what is happening in their high schools than they did when the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS) released its first report card in 2003. With the release of the AIMS 8th Annual Report Card on Atlantic Canadian High Schools; parents, students, teachers and the public are being urged to do more with the information.

The sixth edition of AIMS' public policy magazine Ideas Matter takes a revised look at Atlantica and provides an update on what has been accomplished and what is left to do.

Atlantic Canada has fewer people than projected just a decade ago, and more of us are in the older demographic. In other words we are fewer than expected and older than expected. This paper is an update of AIMS' research more than a decade agfo that first pointed to the looming population crunch

Communications consultant and former AIMS research director Ian Munro explores the antiquated rules that govern Canada's communications sector. He calls for a complete overhaul and makes strong recommendations on how to bring the regulatory regime into the 21st century.

This latest paper in the port series examines Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and concludes such an economic zone would provide numerous benefits to the region. However, it warns, failure to act will prove to be an opportunity lost, while others grasp the potential and act.

It's the second largest harbour in the world, yet the Port of Halifax is far from being considered one of the busiest. However, its importance to the city and the region could be significant as a generator of economic growth. It needs a kick start, and now during this downturn may be just the time. In Go East Go West, John Huang reviews the routes to get goods from Asia to North America, and examines what needs to get done to make Halifax a significant link.

This report, featured in Macleans magazine, grades the performance of 31 of Canada's largest cities and capitals. The results help tell us whether we get value for the money we spend in municipal taxes.

The authors of AIMS Annual Report Card on Atlantic Canadian High Schools are seeing progress. Progress at individual schools and progress in releasing information to the public, but they also see missed opportunities, and lots of them. AIMS' 7th Annual Report Card on Atlantic Canadian High Schools has the details.

This paper examines the practice of "Reference Pricing". Basically it’s a method used to control spending on prescription drugs by public and private insurance systems. Under this approach, drugs which are judged to be interchangeable are classified in therapeutic classes, and a reimbursement ceiling is set up for the whole class.

By February 1st, 2009, between extra payments to government and oil industry, gas price regulation cost consumers in Atlantic Canada more than $155-million. This background paper explains how price regulation is costing you, your neighbours and your guests money every time you fill up your tank.

Dalhousie University Professor Emeritus Dr. Jim McNiven examines Canada's pending labour shortage and explains the complete policy overhaul that's needed to address it.

This paper suggests that Canadian governments build on the existing auction model for wireless communications licences. Among the recommendations, the paper concludes governments should embrace auctions as the means of allocating other assets, such as timber rights, drilling rights, and broadcasting licences.

Homegrown terrorism is an evolving global phenomenon. AIMS Security and Defence Policy Fellow discusses how Canadians might better protect themselves from the terrorism to come.

The Atlantica Centre for Energy issued this Discussion Paper to show why the region is uniquely positioned to serve as the Energy Hub for the International Northeast by reviewing the area's diverse mix of energy related assets. However, the paper also warns that unless project proponents, governments and the community begin to take meaningful action now, the labour supply challenge is a crisis "on our doorstep" that could detrimentally affect the major Energy Hub projects.

This Paper, the 4th in the AIMS Atlantic Port Series, looks at the port typology and determines where the Port of Halifax fits.

This Paper is based on a submission to the Nova Scotia government on school board governance. It explains why schools and school communities, not the Minister of Education, should call the shots in public education.