The Other Name For “Profiling”: Smart Detective Work – January 11, 2010
Canada should get real about airport security—and that doesn’t include three-hour waits, getting naked, and ignoring profiling.

$44 per Day: An Early Christmas for Winnipeg Taxi License Holders – December 3, 2009
When taxi shield holders ask for taxi fares to be raised, decision makers should consider the immense values already capitalised into market value of the licences, now approaching $400,000 in Winnipeg.

Media Release - Christmas Comes Early for Winnipeg Taxi License Owners – December 3, 2009
When taxi shield holders ask for taxi fares to be raised, decision makers should consider the immense values already capitalised into market value of the licences, now approaching $400,000 in Winnipeg.

Can't We All Drink From The Same Cow? – November 19, 2009
Canada is a dairy industry production backwater. Over the past 10 years, the value of Canadian exports of dairy products has dropped by 30% to $255-million. Last year, Canada had a dairy product trade deficit of $422-million.

Capitalism: A True Love Story – October 25, 2009
Steve Forbes and Elizabeth Ames explore the negative impact government regulation has on open markets. Worth a look from Forbes Magazine.

Remove Web Barriers: Tech Guru – October 15, 2009
O'Reilly said Internet service providers should not be allowed to "traffic shape" web service, and cellphone companies should not be able to ban applications or services on their devices, because that hinders the ability of other firms to innovate.

Apocalypse No – October 12, 2009
Powerpoint slides that accompanied Lord Christopher Monckton's Lunch on the Frontier presentation in Winnipeg, October 8, 2009.

Free Market Parking From Canada – October 7, 2009
"In Canada, at least, there is such a thing as a free market think tank with a free market perspective on parking policy."

Whatever Happened to the Idea of Progress? – October 5, 2009
Risk-taking is essential to human progress, and the nanny state becomes a source of risk if it displaces resilience in human behaviour.

Booze Prohibition -- 80 Years On – September 30, 2009
Contrary to myth about Saskatchewan’s approach to alcohol sales at the retail and wholesale level, a new Frontier study finds that alcohol sold at private outlets is not more expensive, doesn’t result in higher consumption and that public monopolies do not prevent alcohol-related crime or social harm.

Ending Saskatchewan’s Prohibition-Era Approach to Liquor Stores – September 29, 2009
This report analyzes the state of Saskatchewan’s approach to alcohol sales at the retail and wholesale level. It finds that alcohol sold at private outlets is not more expensive, doesn’t result in higher consumption and that public monopolies do not prevent alcohol-related crime or social harm. In fact, a province such as Saskatchewan with much government retailing and the lowest overall sales and consumption rates in the country has the highest, second-highest or third-highest rates of alcohol-related harm with respect to friendships, marriage, work, studies, employment, finances, legal problems and physical violence.

Media Release - Ending Saskatchewan’s Prohibition Approach to Alcohol Sales – September 29, 2009
A closer examination of the empirical data and statistics shows that most of the claims made in favour of government monopoly, particularly those made by the Saskatchewan Government Employees Union, are exaggerated, misleading, lack sufficient data, or are simply incorrect.

Bringing Taxi Regulation out of the Dark (Ages) – September 15, 2009
Taxi regulation is almost unique in Canada because it controls the price and quantity supplied to market, rather than just the quality or safety. This approach creates quasi-monopolies at the expense of the public and of drivers.

Media Release: Municipalities are Failing to Adequately Disclose Taxi Regulation to the Public – September 14, 2009
Municipalities responsible for taxi regulation should publish regular (perhaps quarterly or annual) reports of key facts relating to the economic implications of taxi regulation. Licences are not the property of licencees but rather a privilege that is granted by government on behalf of the public. In turn, the public has a right to be informed about the use of these licences.

Who Owns Taxi Licences? – September 14, 2009
Taxi regulation is almost unique in Canada because it controls the price and quantity supplied to market, rather than just the quality or safety. This approach creates a number of primary and secondary economic effects that are difficult for voters to understand. Because governments should act with the informed consent of their people, the onus should be on municipalities to report the effects of their regulatory activities on taxis and consumers. But most city websites show that such disclosure is abysmal and often absent.

How U.S. Protectionism is Killing Canada’s Livestock Producers – September 2, 2009
Canada’s livestock producers are being hurt badly by U.S. country of origin labeling regulations (COOL). Canada must continue to fight these regulations at the WTO.

Taxpayer Cash For Clunker Ideas – August 27, 2009
It was all so socially responsible and win-win – except for those poor taxpayers, who got saddled with still more debt. The other big loser of course is the antiquated notion that public policies should be based on sound science and economics.

Municipal Expropriation for Economic Development: A Tied-Up David v. Goliath Battle – August 4, 2009
Landowners across Manitoba, and in four other provinces, are not safe as provincial governments allow municipalities to expropriate land for economic development—without any real procedural safeguards.

The Subjection of Women: 21st Century-Style – August 3, 2009
The recent alleged “honour killings” in Kingston, Ontario are an unpleasant reminder that the emancipation of women envisioned by John Stuart Mill in the 19th century are not yet a reality for many women around the world.

Debate of Course but Be Honest – July 30, 2009
Winnipeg residents need more accurate information about private service delivery options before they vote in a proposed referendum on the issue.