Policy Blueprints: FCPP - Frontier Centre for Public Policy

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As the senior level in our federal government constitution, Ottawa’s challenge going forward is to respect our model of classical federalism where government functions are delivered by the appropriate level of jurisdiction.

Federal policy needs to be outward looking—maximizing opportunities in an open, global trading economy, keeping Canada on the cusp of the infocomm technology revolution, and embracing taxation models that optimize growth and

living standards.

Transforming Alberta

Alberta has hit a rough-patch recently with a return to deficits, debt and damaged investor confidence. The Frontier Centre believes Alberta can not only recover but prosper and lead Canada in sensible policy.

Alberta has over-spent, under-saved and alienated the province as a destination for investment. On spending, it has moved forward conservatively preferring to fund old policy models instead of re-inventing and reforming them.

Transforming Manitoba

Manitoba’s chronic reliance on transfer payments, its ever-inflating public sector and its increasing concentration of sectoral decision-making power in the hands of a few politicians have diminished the province’s prospects by over -politicizing its economy and the community in general.

But storm clouds are building for this heavily subsidized model. Expect beleaguered Ontario (ultimately the main funder of the transfers) and federal deficit concerns to create strong pressure to trim back these subsidies.

Transforming Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan has seen an economic renaissance in recent years largely due to a period of stable and restrained government which has no precedent in its modern history. Recent governments have reduced public debt and simplified the tax system, and have not unduly expanded the role of government over this period.

This stability has seen a return of investor confidence and allowed Saskatchewan to be a high performing province over the past five years. However, there is always scope for improving the policy environment to foster better economic growth and social outcomes.

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