AIMS and Labour Mobility
AIMS President Brian Lee Crowley recently addressed the newly formed Laissez-Faire Society in Calgary and discussed several of the artificial barriers to economic growth in Atlantic Canada and Canada as a whole. One of his themes, the need to reform EI, is picked up in this column by Nigel Hanneford as he discusses the need to eliminate the barriers to work in Canada. Hanneford argues that leaving EI as it is and failing to eliminate provincial labour mobility barriers will result in a sad state of affairs where it will be easier for a foreign tradesperson or professional to work in Alberta, than somebody from Nova Scotia.
Taking off the Shackles
This enlightening study by Kenneth J. Boessenkool, a senior policy analyst now based in Ottawa, outlines a win-win strategy to reduce the overall cost of equalization and put more money into the hands of the provinces in the long term.
AIMS-inspired national debate on equalization goes on-line
In his latest column for Canoe Money, an on-line media outlet, economist and author Tim Whitehead expresses high praise for "Equalization: Milestone or Millstone?", by Roland Martin, former AIMS Fellow in Public Finance. Whitehead refers to the equalization clawback as a "tax on success" and comments positively on the recommendations to improve the formula that have been put forward by Martin. Whitehead's piece adds to the growing national debate that has been inspired by the release of the first two papers in AIMS new series on equalization: "Equalization: Milestone or Millstone?" and "Taking off the Shackles: Equalization and the Development of Nonrenewable Resources in Atlantic Canada" by Ken Boessenkool.
Offshore Royalty Criticisms Unfounded
Nova Scotia and Newfoundland Stand up to International Comparisons
Calgary Herald endorses AIMS equalization paper
In endorsing the conclusions of a recent AIMS paper on equalization, a Calgary Herald editorial stated that Albertans know intuitively that "windfall" oil revenues should be used to retire debt, shore up savings or spent on one-time projects, not for regular program spending. In Taking off the Shackles: Equalization and the Development of Nonrenewable Resourses in Atlantic Canada, Ken Boessenkool argued that royalties should not be considered part of a regular income stream and should be excluded from the equalization formula. The Calgary Herald has agreed. It states: "…the transfer calculations should be made on the long-term, stable sources of provincial revenue - such as corporate profits, personal income and sales taxes - not volatile royalty revenues. "
Health care system needs Swedish massage
Swedish nurses, doctors, unions and industry all agree that the increase in independent health care organizations offers Sweden very large gains over the public monopoly model. According to AIMS President Brian Lee Crowley, this Swedish massage is just what the doctor ordered for Canada’s ailing health care system. Publication: CHH, June 20, 2001
AIMS On-Line for mid June 2001
Here is what's new at AIMS, Atlantic Canada's Public Policy Think Tank
How to Save the Port of Halifax From a Slow Lingering Death
AIMS releases Port-Ability: A Private Sector Strategy for the Port of Halifax
Port-Ability
As a gateway to North America for world container traffic, the port of Halifax is dying a slow, lingering death. For the past ten years, its share of the North Atlantic market has stagnated. This stagnation has been caused by a failure to achieve real privatization in port governance. Despite supposed efforts at commercialization of ports in Canada, the federal government retains strict centralized control on ports and port policy. This is a drag on innovation, efficiency, and investment.
Atlantic Petroleum Royalties
Since Atlantic Canadian offshore oil and gas production became a reality in the 1990s, criticism of the royalty regimes and associated agreements has been a regular occurrence in both the media and the respective provincial legislatures. As a result, the public is subject to considerable uncertainty and anxiety about whether returns from resource exploitation are fair.