For Immediate Release: Give Federal Transfers to People, not Provinces
AIMS latest paper proposes a new model of equalization that involves giving federal transfers directly to individuals, not provinces.
Less government, not less governments
AIMS Senior Fellow Don McIver talks local government reform as New Brunswickers get closer to their local election dates.
HRM eyes holding line on municipal tax bills
That HRM staff are actually recommending moving municipal tax rates down so that the average tax bill stays about the same is a remarkable step forward, says AIMS President and CEO Charles Cirtwill.
Stadium Studies
In this commentary, Bill Black of New Start Nova Scotia looks at the Halifax Regional Municipality’s Stadium Analysis Report, and finds considerable challenges facing the potential stadium in Halifax. Most importantly, there doesn’t seem to be a viable business case for it.
Education council system finally finding its feet
Recent successes see local District Education Councils (DECs) having real impact on decision-making, but AIMS President and CEO Charles Cirtwill says DECs haven't yet lived up to their intent to move to a more localized decision-making model.
Backroom politics kill school review process
AIMS President and CEO Charles Cirtwill is interviewed about his thoughts regarding how descisions have been made regarding the prevention of school closures, and his take on backroom allegations made by southernshorenow.ca as a result of a freedom of information request.
The Beacon – 20 July 2011
AIMS’ 2nd Annual Nova Scotia Municipal Report Card is released. A proposal by AIMS President and CEO Charles Cirtwill for Prince Edward Island to uphold its confederation promises- and expand Provincial free trade with the West. Why small provinces and states like Maine need big business- and soon. AIMS Director of Research Don McIver suggests that Federal government goodwill initiatives may very well have acted in the opposite in retrospect to 1867. Perry Newman, AIMS Board member and President of Atlantica Group LLC recalls the tale of the brave Terry Fox in-lieu of his mother, Betty Fox’s passing. Based on a convocation speech delivered to Kingsview Academy in Halifax, AIMS President and CEO Charles Cirtwill offers some words of wisdom about the future of our society
Stellarton tops list as best-run municipality
The municipality that came in first overall in Nova Scotia is Stellarton, according to a report released Wednesday by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies.
Local municipalities score above top 15 in provincial rankings
The Town of Truro has ranked number 13 out of 55 Nova Scotia municipalities in the overall summary of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies 2nd Annual Nova Scotia Municipal Performance Report.
Good marks for Richmond County in AIMS report
A municipal performance report released Wednesday by Halifax-based think-tank Atlantic Institute for Market Studies ranked Richmond County as the seventh best performing municipality in the province.