AIMS // Atlantic Institute for Market Studies

This report by the Society for Quality Education gives a review of virtual education, ultimately finding that despite the advantages of introducing online and e-learning programs in the public education system, there are barriers to its growth and expansion.

In this paper, AIMS Research Intern John Kennedy argues that attracting and retaining Gen Y may be the key to economic growth in Atlantic Canada – and offers some insight as to how to get them here (to stay).

This paper examines the degree to which provincial drug plans reflect the results of the Common Drug Review, ultimately finding that the review has NOT resulted in consistent availability to pharmaceuticals across the provinces.

In this paper, AIMS Director of Research Don McIver asserts that industrial strategies are not a legitimate role of government and when they are attempted, they waste resources that could be better used to serve citizens.

In this paper, Salim Mansur, an Associate Professor in the faculty of social sciences at the University of Western Ontario, takes a look at Canada's multiculturalism policy in light of the reality of the 21st century.

The changes that need to be made for the wireless industry to better serve Canadians.

This paper examines the choices for child care and concludes Government funding for vulnerable children is a good investment of taxpayers dollars.

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.