Canada-U.S. Relations

Canadian Council Endorses Canada-U.S. Procurement Negotiations

Business leaders across Canada strongly congratulated Canada’s premiers for their joint commitment to extending Canada-U.S. free trade to provincial, state and municipal levels. “At a time when Buy American provisions in the United States are hurting businesses and workers on both sides of the border, we need to explore every possible means of encouraging the free flow of goods and services among our communities,” said Thomas d’Aquino, Chief Executive and President of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. Read

 

 

International Affairs

Engaging Iran

The election of Barack Obama greatly increases the chances of a comprehensive Iran-U.S. dialogue, but it remains uncertain if such a dialogue will actually begin, according to Peter Jones of the University of Ottawa’s Centre for International Policy Studies. The author asserts that outside actors will need to understand the distinctive characteristics of Iranian negotiating behaviour, which reflect complex social and historical approaches to interpersonal relationships in Iranian society. Read

 

Insights into the Future of Iran as a Regional Power

On 30-31 March 2009, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) hosted a conference featuring leading experts from various research and other institutions, each of whom provided a different perspective on Iran’s politics, economy, society or foreign policy. A report from the conference has been produced, highlighting key findings. Read

 

India Can Be an Anchor of Stability

After its recent elections it appears that India's democracy is in robust health, claims Ramesh Thakur of the Centre for International Governance Innovation. For all its own challenges, India can be an anchor of stability and a partner for outsiders wishing to consolidate progress in the ring of fragile and troubled states, he says. Because of this, regional countries and the international community should engage with India as a potential solution to the problem of failing states. Read

 

The North Korea Crisis

In response to the newly heightened crisis following North Korea’s recent nuclear and missile testing, the University of British Columbia’s Simons Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Research is tracking key insights and analysis of ongoing developments, with particular attention to Canadian implications and viewpoints. The Simons Centre is housed in the Lui Institute for Global Issues at UBC. Read

 

 

Economy

Going for Gold: Western Canadian Economic Competitiveness Survey

A survey spearheaded by Robert Roach of the Canada West Foundation asked respondents to rank the importance of 48 distinct public policy options for improving the international economic competitiveness of western Canada. Even though every option could be ranked as high or as low on the scale as any other, a hierarchy emerged as some options received far more support than others. Read

 

Quelle déréglementation?

La déréglementation tous azimuts est l'élément déclencheur de la crise économique, selon un texte d’opinion de Nathalie Elgrably-Lévy de l’Institut économique de Montréal. Et si le Canada est moins touché, c'est grâce à un système bancaire rigoureusement contrôlé. C'est du moins ce que tout le monde répète de manière mécanique depuis des mois, comme si c'était une vérité formelle. Mais de quelle déréglementation s'agit-il? Voilà bien une question à laquelle les partisans de la théorie de la déréglementation sont incapables de répondre, dit Elgrably-Lévy. Lire

 

Refinery and Petrochemical Construction Costs Decline for the First Time

The effects of the global economic slowdown and falling commodity prices have halted the rise of costs for designing and constructing downstream refining and petrochemical projects after years of steady escalation, according to a report from the Cambridge Energy Research Associates. This drop reverses a six percent increase observed over the previous six months and returns costs back to levels last observed in late 2007. Read

 

 

Energy / Environment

Green Building and Developments as a Public Good

Governments in Canada are attempting to respond to the challenge of global warming with “green” building initiatives. A new paper from the Canadian Policy Research Networks, author Mike Buzzelli argues that green building and development faces a classic policy paradox: we collectively agree that improvements are needed in the built environment but we are caught in a whirlwind of information and debate about how to move forward. We are motivated to "be green" but challenged by implementation. He explains how this can be resolved. Read

 

Canada’s Nuclear Crossroads: Steps to a Viable Nuclear Energy Industry

Based on cost and environmental grounds, Nuclear energy has an important role to play in Canada’s electricity generation mix; however, several hurdles remain to be cleared, says the C.D. Howe Institute. A new study examines three key policy questions facing the nuclear industry – cost, privatization of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and regulation. The authors contend that the future of nuclear power in Canada is positive if policymakers are prepared to make hard choices on these key issues. Read

 

 

Public Policy

Debunking the Myth That Gas Price Regulation Robs Consumers

A new report released by Roderick Hill of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives in Nova Scotia challenges the argument, put forth by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS), that regulation of prices at the gas pump ‘robs from consumers’ in Atlantic Canada. According to Hill, the AIMS analysis did not: adjust for inflation; consider other factors that influence retail prices; look at the big picture and consider price trends; provide an accurate analysis of regulation because of errors; provide a correct analysis of sales taxes; and, include an analysis of who really benefits from deregulation. Read I Original AIMS study.

 

Living Standards Domain of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing

A report from the Centre for the Study of Living Standards provides a comprehensive overview of trends in a number of indicators of living standards in Canada over the 1981-2008. The report also presents a synthesis of overall trends in living standards, discusses living standard measurement issues, and puts forward a set of headline indicators to capture the essentials of what has been happening to the living standards of Canadians. Finally, the report comments on the sustainability of current levels of living standards. Read

 

Neighbourhood Renewal Corporations in Winnipeg’s Inner City

Two Neighbourhood Renewal Corporations (NRCs) in Winnipeg’s inner city are examined in a paper from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. After briefly describing the inner-city Spence and West Broadway neighbourhoods and the political context, the authors offer detailed observations on the challenges of managing small, complex, community development organizations in low-income neighbourhoods. Read

 

This Time, We Won’t Scare

No doubt there are some genuine horror stories regarding health care in Canada, as there are here in the United States, writes Nicholas D. Kristof in a New York Times op-ed, but the bottom line is that America’s health care system spends nearly twice as much per person as Canada’s. Yet America’s infant mortality rate is 40% higher than Canada’s, and American mothers are 57% more likely to die in childbirth than Canadian ones. Read

 

Fraser Forum Released

The Fraser Institute’s Fraser Forum, a monthly review of public policy in Canada, is available online. The June edition focuses on health care, but also contains articles on the size of government in Canada, a critique of minimum wage hikes and more. Read

 

 

Public Opinion

TV Most Trusted News Source

Television is still the number one source of news for Canadians, by a wide margin, over newspapers, radio and the Internet. TV is also, again by a slam-dunk margin, the most trusted source of news. These are the main findings of a Nanos Research poll conducted for the Institute for Research on Public Policy’s Policy Options, as the magazine’s June issue focused on the crisis in the media. Read I June edition of Policy Options.

 

 

Education

Risking the Ride to Work

In nine months, more than 1,100 adults have gone to emergency wards in Vancouver and Toronto for cycling-related injuries, according to preliminary findings of a University of British Columbia (UBC) study released for Bike Month. The study is led by Prof. Kay Teschke of UBC’s School of Population and Public Health, one of 10 UBC researchers participating in UBC’s Cycling in Cities research program, which investigates how to make cities bike-friendly. Read