Localize the FCPP Homepage

We need to be flexible intellectually in terms of thinking about alternative approaches . . .

Click to Enlarge

Why Our Independence Matters to You

1. No Government Funding

Because we seek to comment objectively on public policy, FCPP is the only registered Prairie-based think tank which declines government grants.

2. Diversified Funding Base

We diversify our funding base as much as possible to ensure that we are not beholden to any particular industry, interest or persons. Individuals and businesses that see value in exploring better policy support FCPP. The bulk of our funding comes from charitable foundations that support public policy work in Canada.

3. Board/Staff Firewall

A respected Board of Research Advisors guarantees the independence and integrity of our work. The Centre has a formal policy, embodied in a Board of Directors resolution, that forbids any direct Board involvement or influence in the Centre's education efforts.

For an objective, arm's length take on public policy you can trust the very independent . . . Frontier Centre for Public Policy.

Public Choice and Public Policy: Curbing Self-Interest in Government
Speaker: Peter Holle, President
Date: 2008-11-22
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Place: University of Waterloo, Room HH373 Philosophy Dept..

Some basics on public choice theory and how it can be used to discourage interest group capture problems in public policy. For more information contact Matt Bufton at 519.819.3037 or matt@liberalstudies.ca.

The Media and Climate Change
Speaker: Peter Holle, President
Date: 2008-11-28
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Place: Legislative Dining Room Basement Legislative Building, 450 Broadway Avenue, Carleton Club Breakfast.

Frontier's recent comprehensive nation wide opinion poll reveals a public frustrated with the media's narrow fixation on human-caused global warming theory, which is just one of many climate change theories. We drill down into the scandalous one-sided climate change debate. Contact Bob Baron at 269.5222 for more details.

2008 Canadian and U.S. elections: The impact on Manitoba and Canada
Speaker: Peter Holle, President
Date: 2009-01-08
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Place: Masonic Temple, 420 Corydon at Crazy Corner.

How will the recent elections in Canada and the United States impact Manitoba? Challenging global economic circumstances will push the Harper and Obama Governments in some interesting directions – some are likely to sideswipe Manitoba's comfortable policy inertia. Hosted by the Canadian Pacific Pensioners Association (MB). Please contact Allan Denton at 783.8629 for more details.

The Media and Climate Change
Speaker: Peter Holle, President
Date: 2009-01-15
Time: 12:15 p.m.
Place: Rotary West luncheon at the CanadInn Polo Park.

Frontier's recent comprehensive nation wide opinion poll reveals a public frustrated with the media's narrow fixation on human-caused global warming theory, which is just one of many climate change theories. We drill down into the scandalous one-sided climate change debate. Contact John Melnick at jmelnick@mts.net for more details.

2008-11-19
Another $150,000 Please
Each Canadian taxpayer is on the hook for C$150,211 (about U.S.$140,472.30) that their government has racked up in debt and unfunded program obligations. The combined total debt is C$1.3 trillion (about U.S.$1.21 trillion). The problem stems from the fact that the governments in each province have committed themselves to programs that are not fully funded or that have been updated in the last four decades, says the Fraser Forum.

Consider the Old Age Security (OAS) program -- Canada's retirement income system. Pensions are available to all citizens 65 years or older and are to be paid from federal tax revenues.

Unfortunately, the program is based on demographic assumptions from the 1960s that do not ring true today, says Fraser:

o In 1956, only 7.7 percent of Canadians were over 65 years old; in 2006, that proportion increased to 13.3 percent, and is expected to rise to 26.5 percent by 2040.

o This change in Canada's demographic makeup has increased and will continue to increase the portion of federal revenues need to fund OAS benefits.

o The difference between the stream of promised benefits and the expected future stream of revenues is estimated to currently be C$356 billion (about U.S.$341 billion).

Moreover, Canada's Medicare obligations suffer the same ills:

o In 2006-2007, Medicare consumed 19.1 percent of total federal, provincial and local government revenue.

o Given that those 65 years old account for approximately 44 percent of all health spending, and the fact that the percentage of the population over 65 will increase dramatically, the portion of revenue currently used to fund Medicare will not be sufficient.

o As such, Medicare's unfunded liability stands at C$364 billion (about U.S.$340 billion).

The good news is that Canadians have, for the most part, come to realize the seriousness of continually increasing government debt. Indeed, most governments are making an effort to balance their books and some are paying down debt. At the federal level, many consider running a deficit a sure way to commit political suicide, says the Forum.

Source: Niels Veldhuis and Milagros Palacios, "Another $150,000 please," Fraser Forum, July/August 2008.