Urban Affairs/Local Government

Property taxes, municipal services, increasing costs, bigger potholes - all are part of the reality of today's urban centre. This paper examines taxation in the Halifax Regional Municipality and recommends how municipal taxation can be more efficient and accountable.

Smarter taxation for HRM

Ottawa Sun Columnist Walter Robinson recommends a recent AIMS Commentary by Patrick Luciani be mandatory reading for city councillors.

This edition of the Beacon explores issues ranging from urban development to the Atlantic Gateway to education.

AIMS Senior Fellow in Urban Policy Patrick Luciani challenges the theory that municipal growth is driven by creative citizens.

Are taxpayers getting a good return on the money they pay to their municipal governments? Are municipalities putting tax dollars toward infrastructure and services, or frittering it away on non-necessities while roads fall apart? Should we be demanding more from our local government?

This edition of the Beacon takes a look at the Atlantic fishery, private health care delivery and the benefits of Atlantica.

With property values rising, so too does the tax collected by municipalities. In New Brunswick, some local governments are considering cutting the tax rate. AIMS Director of Research Ian Munro says such discussions are an indication that people understand how property taxes work.

When Halifax municipal councillors began muttering that perhaps the city had too much regulation, the Halifax Daily News turned to AIMS for comment. Acting president Charles Cirtwill says there is no doubt the city council is too quick to pass bylaws without considering enforcement, the cost or the need.

In this article from the Telegraph Journal AIMS acting President Charles Cirtwill explains why it is unlikely a single government for the Atlantic provinces would result in reduced spending.