Should we SAC the School Boards?
In asking for some big new ideas, the Premier of Nova Scotia laid down a challenge to a gathering of education stakeholders – incremental changes are not enough. In his fortnightly column AIMS acting president Charles Cirtwill took up that challenge in spades. He proposes not only doing away with school boards but combining that move with a shift to true site based management at the school level. Making schools responsible for student performance and making the department responsible for supporting, not running, schools.
Whose education is this anyway? Why the “public” in “public education” should mean the children, not the system.
AIMS points out that expanding Tuition Support, not getting rid of it, is in the best interest of students and the province of Nova Scotia.
Atlantic Region needs proper forum for transportation
Charles Cirtwill, AIMS acting president, says the call for a regional forum to address transportation issues is the right move, but there is no need to create an entirely new organization; there are existing bodies that can take on the role.
The power of one
The head of NB Power says that experiments in deregulation have proven that it just doesn't work. AIMS acting President Charles Cirtwill argues that so-called deregulation schemes in Ontario and California actually created more regulation than they cut. He suggests that true deregulation hasn't been given a fair shot in North America.
The Beacon, 31 October 2007
This edition of The Beacon features an opinion piece from The National Post on public education written by AIMS acting president Charles Cirtwill as well as articles on a variety of current policy hot topics, including health care and the Atlantic Gateway.
Broad-based tax cuts will benefit N.B.
As the federal finance minister was announcing tax cuts, reporters were turning to AIMS acting President Charles Cirtwill to explain the impact. He says the plan to cut taxes by $60 billion over the next five years will help small and medium sized businesses, and the low corporate tax rate can lead to a competitive advantage globally.