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The West’s Boom Has Indeed Benefitted the Poor

Across Canada, average inflation-adjusted incomes for those in the bottom fifth of the income distribution increased by 20 percent between 1999 and 2009. By comparison, the average income for similarly situated Albertans increased by 39 percent - almost exactly twice as much. In British Columbia and Saskatchewan, the average income for this group increased by approximately 30 per cent.

In The News — December 4, 2011
Calorie Counts Don't Work

Obesity is a major issue -- a third of American children and two thirds of adults are obese or overweight. So we must ask: how to fight it? For many policymakers, the answer is better labeling. But is that enough, asks David Gratzer a physician and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

Calorie labeling, whereby restaurants post the calorie contents of their menu items, has become a cause de jour in the public health community. But consider a quick review of the literature:

o October 2009: Researchers from Yale and the NYU School of Medicine published a study in Health Affairs they touted as a "first look" at the impact of calorie counts in New York City. Result: "We did not detect a change in calories purchased after the introduction of calorie labeling."

o August 2010: Researchers from Stanford University and the National Bureau of Economic Research reviewed sales data for New York City Starbucks. They concluded: "Food calories per transaction fell by 14 percent (equal to 14 calories per transaction on average)" and beverage calories "did not substantially change" for a net calorie drop of just 6 percent per transaction.

o January 2011: In the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, researchers from Duke tracked buying decisions in Taco Time franchises after a Washington state county passed a mandatory calorie posting law. They found: "No impact of the regulation on purchasing behavior was found. Trends in transactions and calories per transaction did not vary between control and intervention locations after the law was enacted."

o February 2011: The lead author of the first NYU study expanded on those results for the International Journal of Obesity, focusing on key groups: teens, parents and children in low-income neighborhoods. Result: "We found no statistically significant differences in calories purchased before and after labeling."

Calorie labeling is popular among policymakers but it just doesn't seem to work, says Gratzer.


Source: David Gratzer, "Calorie Counts Are a Dud,"
Frum Forum, September 12, 2011.

See More "In the News"


More Immigrants Can Save Canada’s Economy

With baby boomers preparing for retirement, Canada is going to have serious challenges paying for underfunded pension and healthcare benefits. By 2056, Canada is scheduled to go from 5 workers for each retiree down to a 2-to-1 ratio. To keep the ratio of workers to retirees steady, we'd need to accept 1 million immigrants per year. Otherwise we will likely need both significant tax increases and reduced public spending on health and pension benefits.

Join us weekly across the prairies for our hard hitting policy commentary broadcast across the Goldenwest Radio Network - Click here for a list of 14 stations and broadcast times.

Aruna Papp joins Dave Rutherford to discuss honour killings in Canada. How can we address the issue effectively? It begins with the correct training. (~12 min)

~12 min 

January 31, 2012 — Honourless 'Honour Killings'
Honour killings expert, Aruna Papp, on the latest casualty of multi-culturalism in Canada—young South Asian women—where suicide rates are among the highest at home and abroad.

~6 min 

December 28, 2011 — Casualties of Multi-Culturalism
Extract of Christopher Hitchens's 'Busybody State' speech to the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, April 26th, 2006, on CBC Current Affairs program 'The Current' broadcast nationally May, 1, 2006

~1 min 

December 16, 2011 — Hitchens (The Current - CBC)
Speaker, Writer, and former Leader of the Green Party of Ontario, Frank de Jong, spoke on the multiple benefits to urban design when municipal property taxes are shifted off buildings and onto land value alone. He spoke at a Lunch on the Frontier in Winnipeg November 25, 2011. (~56 min.)

~55 min 

November 30, 2011 — Untax Buildings, Uptax Land (de Jong)
Frontier Policy Analyst Steve Lafleur was interviewed by Rob Carnie on Moose Jaw's CHAB 800 regarding his latest Policy Series 'More Immigrants Needed to Maintain Saskatchewan's Boom'. (~12 mins)

~11 min 

November 21, 2011 — More Immigrants Needed in Saskatchewan (CHAB)
How efficiently are we managing our immigrant and refugee populations and should the Federal Government pay refugee claimants to leave the country when their applications are denied? Joining in on the discussion is Jason Kenney, Canada’s Minster of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, followed by a panel with Immigration Lawyer Raj Sharma and Steve LaFleur, Public Policy Analyst with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.

~1 min 

September 8, 2011 — Is Immigration Canada Rewarding Ineligible Immigrants? (AB Primetime)
With baby boomers preparing for retirement, Canada is going to have serious challenges paying for underfunded pension and healthcare benefits. By 2056, Canada is scheduled to go from 5 workers for each retiree down to a 2-to-1 ratio. To keep the ratio of workers to retirees steady, we'd need to accept 1 million immigrants per year. Otherwise we will likely need both significant tax increases and reduced public spending on health and pension benefits.

~2 min 

August 12, 2011 — More Immigrants Can Save Canada’s Economy
Policy Analyst Steve Lafleur was interviewed by Murray Langdon on Victoria's CFAX about how Canada's economic health depends on immigration. (~16 mins)

~16 min 

August 4, 2011 — Immigration = Economic Health (CFAX)
Policy Analyst Steve Lafleur was interviewed by Whitney Deane on the Rob Breckinridge Show for Calgary's CHQR AM 770 about immigration policies in Canada and the future of its economy. (~17 mins)

~17 min 

August 4, 2011 — Only More Immigrants Can Save Canada's Economy (CHQR)
Frontier Intern Meredith Lilly was interviewed on The John Gormley Show airing regarding her recent column 'Immigration for a Prosperous Sasakatchewan'. With audience call-in. (~16 mins)

~16 min 

August 2, 2011 — Saskatchewan's Immigration Policy Promotes Prosperity
Greenpeace and other opponents of genetic modification have succeeded at legally blocking Golden Rice from being grown worldwide. They have said that if it is planted they will rip it from the ground. It seems they would rather see a quarter of a million kids who depend on rice for their nutrition go blind than allow genetic engineering. Radio commentary by Senior Policy Analyst David Seymour.

~2 min 

April 29, 2011 — GE Rice Better than Blindness
Research Associate Aruna Papp was interviewed on the Dave Rutherford Show on Calgary's CHQR AM 770 regarding a new manual for immigrants which talks about Canadians not accepting the barbaric practices of honour killings, female genital mutilation and other cultural practices that abuse women. (~22 mins)

~21 min 

April 7, 2011 — Official Multiculism Fails Immigrants (CHQR)

Latest Publications

What’s Wrong With Renting Sheds to Poor?

— January 27, 2012

The fact that a man in Winnipeg faces charges for renting a shed in his backyard should lead us to question how restrictive housing and renting policies are creating the situation.



Honour Killings in Canada: An Undeniable Reality!

— January 20, 2012

Wherever there is a bubble of ignorance, I am there to burst it. Canada, a lovely country known for its open-hearted acceptance of immigrants from a vast array of foreign lands, is quickly becoming a cesspool in which cultures are clashing. These clashes are usually swept under the rug by the host country (Canada) and those who are integrating (at varying degrees) in to the host country.



No 'Honour' in Killing

— January 16, 2012

In our often too politically correct world where everyone is afraid of being branded a racist and therefore doesn't speak of such matters, there is a growing problem within some of our immigrant communities -- honour-based violence, which in some cases, becomes fatal.



The West’s Boom Has Indeed Benefitted the Poor

— January 16, 2012

Ben Eisen shows that economic growth in western Canada has improved the material conditions of low-income individuals and families in the region.



Make Immigration Break Even

— December 23, 2011

The Canadian government recently announced a moratorium on immigration applications for parents and grandparents of Canadians under the family reunification program. But rather than eliminating the program, as many opponents have urged, the government should instead find a way to ensure that sponsors are bearing its full costs. A reasonable way to reconcile concerns would be to charge an entrance fee to sponsored parents and grandparents through the family reunification program.



Media Release - Suicide Among Young Women of South Asian Origin

— December 15, 2011

The suicide rate among young women of South Asian origin is disproportionately higher than other segments of the population in Western societies. In Canada, with its large South Asian population, this unexplored area is likely similar, even though not many mechanisms have been put in place to prevent and track such activity. Given that there are lives at stake, the policy gaps need to be addressed by lawmakers.




Recent Updates


View More Policy Notes

Policy Notes - A One Page Policy Discussion

2012-01-27 – What’s Wrong With Renting Sheds to Poor?

2012-01-16 – The West’s Boom Has Indeed Benefitted the Poor

2011-12-23 – Make Immigration Break Even

» View More Policy Notes

View More Frontier Backgrounders

Frontier Backgrounders - Short Analyses

2011-11-02 – Smart Growth Hurts the Urban Poor

2007-07-03 – Climate Change in Disarray – An African Perspective

2003-02-03 – Harvard Project Lessons on Self-Government

» View More Frontier Backgrounders

View More Perspectives

Perspectives - Thoughts from the Advisory Board...

2011-03-25 – Earth Hour - A Dissent

2010-12-20 – UNICEF’s Guilt Trip

2010-06-18 – 'Poverty' Calls For Precision

» View More Perspectives

View More Policy Series

Policy Series - Longer Reports & Studies

2011-12-15 – A Policy Roadmap for Solutions to Suicide Among Young Women of South Asian Origin

2011-11-04 – More Immigrants Needed to Maintain Saskatchewan's Boom

2011-05-13 – Helping Refugees While Protecting Canadian Sovereignty

» View More Policy Series

View More Conversations

Conversations - with Policy Innovators

2011-11-30 – Frank de Jong, Former Green Party Leader

2011-01-21 – Calvin Helin, Author 'The Economic Dependency Trap'

2009-04-17 – Mark Chamberlain, Entrepreneur, Business and Community Leader

» View More Conversations

View More Special Reports and Publications

Special Reports and Publications

2009-06-26 – NO Second Class Citizens

2009-03-23 – Private Water Management Helps The Poor

2008-11-27 – For Aboriginals, Life is Better in the City

» View More Special Reports and Publications

View More Rural Renaissance Notes

Rural Renaissance Notes

2006-05-20 – Harper Panders on Trade

2006-04-24 – The Multiplier Effect

2004-12-29 – Eco-imperialism Won't Save the Environment

» View More Rural Renaissance Notes

View More PowerPoint Slides from Events

PowerPoint Slides from Events

2011-11-28 – Untax Buildings, Uptax Land

2010-03-08 – Where Are Aboriginal Affairs in Canada Headed?

2006-06-21 – Harry's Policy Manifesto

» View More PowerPoint Slides from Events

View More Aboriginal Voices from Ground Zero

Aboriginal Voices from Ground Zero

2008-01-14 – New Funding for Native Entrepreneurs Positive Move

2007-11-23 – Elliott Flett R.I.P.

2007-10-31 – A Solution to the Gang Problem?

» View More Aboriginal Voices from Ground Zero

View More Worth a Look

Worth a Look - In our Virtual Library...

2012-01-14 – Yes, the Rich May Get Richer, But So Do the Poor

2010-12-06 – Tearing Apart the British Welfare State: Tories Impose Jobs on the 'Workshy'

2009-09-16 – The Man Who Defused the 'Population Bomb'

» View More Worth a Look

View More Modern Environmentalist

Modern Environmentalist

2007-07-27 – Live Earth Remedy Deadly for Africans

2006-08-10 – Organic Food and Humvees Are Both Eco-Wasteful

2005-07-26 – Corporate Social Responsibility in Peru

» View More Modern Environmentalist

View More Charticles

Charticles - A Graphical Look at Issues

2007-09-11 – Prairie Spending Patterns Show No Evidence of Child-Care Crisis

2006-04-20 – Subsidies at Root of Farm-Income Crisis

2005-12-23 – Higher Prices, Fewer Choices – Manitoba’s Rent Control Failure

» View More Charticles

View More Frontier Centre in the Media

Frontier Centre in the Media

2012-01-20 – Honour Killings in Canada: An Undeniable Reality!

2012-01-16 – No 'Honour' in Killing

2011-02-01 – The Rights Thing

» View More Frontier Centre in the Media

View More Frontier Media Appearances

Frontier Media Appearances

2012-01-31 – Honourless 'Honour Killings'

2011-12-28 – Casualties of Multi-Culturalism

2011-12-16 – Hitchens (The Current - CBC)

» View More Frontier Media Appearances

View More Frontier Radio Commentary

Frontier Radio Commentary

2011-08-12 – More Immigrants Can Save Canada’s Economy

2011-04-29 – GE Rice Better than Blindness

2011-01-14 – How Destroying Old Cars Hurts The Poor

» View More Frontier Radio Commentary

View More Frontier Audio (Speeches/Events)

Frontier Audio (Speeches/Events)

2011-11-30 – Untax Buildings, Uptax Land (de Jong)

2011-01-21 – Calvin Helin - The Economic Dependency Trap

2010-11-30 – Danielle Smith - Avoiding Greek Style Meltdowns

» View More Frontier Audio (Speeches/Events)

View More Frontier Recommended Audio

Frontier Recommended Audio

2009-02-10 – Will the 'Nanny State' Be Replaced by the 'Daddy State?'

2008-10-09 – Stop the War on the Poor (CHQR)

2007-10-25 – The Age of Abundance (Cato Audio)

» View More Frontier Recommended Audio

View More Frontier Channel - Video

Frontier Channel - Video

2009-09-25 – Big Bear Award

2008-10-09 – Energy, Climate Change and the War on the Poor (Innis)

2007-06-27 – A Path to Prosperity for First Nations - Calvin Helin

» View More Frontier Channel - Video

View More Frontier Recommended Video

Frontier Recommended Video

2012-01-17 – Minimum wage 101

2012-01-03 – Steven Pinker on the Myth of Violence

2011-10-20 – Thatcher on Wealth Creation

» View More Frontier Recommended Video

Feedback @ Frontier
RE: Immigration a key to maintaining Saskatchewan's Boom — November 7, 2011

We have the manpower in our country to fill the labour shortages and to replace aging Baby Boomers.  Our Aboriginal reserves in most instances have well over 80% unemployed simply because in most of the reserve areas there are few, if any other employers. Our government has failed to bite the bullet and should have long before this indicated that each family would be provided a reasonable sized home in the city or larger towns nearest to the reserves. Social assistance and training of employable family members would fill the shortages to replace aging Baby Boomers as referred to in this email from the Frontier Centre.  The family members in return would have to give up their current rights to live on the reserves.

The unemployment problems existing on most of the reserves would then be resolved and the aboriginals could integrate into our society for the benefit of all involved – as have our past immigrants to our country have done and continue to do when they come to Canada.

Stephen Marlowe
Edmonton, Alberta

RE: The Road to Ruin — December 30, 2010

Their system is even worse than Canada’s in terms of presenting a poverty trap because housing and transportation is means tested in addition to our packages of health and day care services.  When she was in that situation, she earned less than $1 per hour incremental money from working at a minimum wage position than she did doing nothing.  Any logical person in that situation searched out opportunities to work occasionally for cash in very vulnerable employer-employee relationships that were open to multiple forms of abusive practices... (more) -- E-mail from Manitoba

RE: Five Single Rate Tax Thoughts — October 11, 2009

David Seymour, director of the Frontier Center for Public Policy (Saskatchewan office), has written an important paper that should help frame the debate on tax policy for all of Canada’s provinces. "Five Single Rate Tax Thoughts," presents a compelling case that Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and the other provinces would benefit from enacting a low flat tax that has given Alberta the best investment and work climate in Canada. - Alvin Rabushka, David and Joan Traitel Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, California

 

RE: Harper Panders on Trade — June 1, 2006

I just read your May 19 article in the Saskatoon Star phoenix, Harper sacrifices Canada’s farmers for political gain.. I agree wholeheartedly with your position and assessment of the Canadian negotiating position at WTO.

One item you should consider, this is not the first time the Canadian intransigence on sensitive products has stalled negotiations. In the Hong Kong ministerial meeting in Dec. ’05, the Dec. 17 draft position paper included a formula for tariff reduction of sensitive products tied to the amount of increased in quota access. After the final late night negotiations and direct orders from the PMO, the formula was removed from the final text of Dec. 18. If Canada had not pulled the agreement off the table in Dec. there would have been a far more significant result from the Hong Kong meeting and much more progress would have been made on entire trade deal since then, but instead there has been no progress what so ever and Canada is maintaining an intransigent position.

The same applies the CWB. Crawford Falconer, the chair of the Ag committee at the WTO as put out 2 position papers in May, both including an option to end the monopoly of state trading enterprises. He has left the door wide open for Canada to just walk through, he has pointed to the open door, he has given directions to the open door, he has begged, and Canada has done nothing. It defies comprehension. - E-mail from Doug McBain, Past President, Western Barley Growers Association

RE: Unravelling Child Poverty — December 10, 2003
Well said! Short, to the point and factual – but facts that are black and white not grey. Too often it seems that groups and politicians twist facts around for their own agenda. The fact that your article points out that governments have spent gobs of cash on the poor yet the levels of poverty have not changed proves that the methods don’t work. Email from Winnipeg
RE: New Funding for Native Entrepreneurs Positive Move — January 14, 2008
Excellent article on a subject most Canadian have no knowledge. You might follow this up with one documenting the number of successful actions against organizations that do not follow proper procedure re terminating employees who have 'offended' someone of importance. E-mail from Manitoba
RE: Our misplaced priorities . . . — January 8, 2008
In my view, the most important environmental issue facing the world today is the fact that one billion of the world's population lives on less than $1.00 a day. excerpt from letter by Andy Wells, Mayor of St. John's, Newfoundland Read entire letter
RE: Unravelling Child Poverty — December 4, 2003
Kudos for taking on the poverty industry on this issue. Keep up the good work. - Email from Winnipeg
Frontier Flashback
West's Biggest Government
In 1965, Manitoba had the smallest provincial government in Western Canada as a percentage of the economy, slightly below the Canadian average at 11.5%. By 1975, it had the largest sized provincial government relative to its economy, at 20.4%.
A solution to the gang problem?
The north provides many ideal locations for boot camps such as islands surrounded by pristine waters where the only sound to break the silence may be the barking of orders by the drill sergeant at 6 am on the parade grounds as new recruits stand at attention to begin their day. In addition to a strict form of military discipline and training, classes could be part of the daily regimen: carpentry, plumbing, and electrical and business management, offering future alternatives to street life. Some may even choose a career in Canada’s military.
Myths about Childcare Subsidies
While targeted public spending on subsidizing childcare for poor families can be justified based on the current research literature, the claim that a universal childcare program would constitute a prudent investment in families is not supported by solid research. Governments should recognize this canard for what it is and dedicate scarce resources to the vast number of priorities that are more worthy and urgent than the subsidization of childcare choices for economically comfortable families.
Helping the Poor with Public Service Reform
Britain’s National Health Service tells a similar story. Although it was created 60 years ago to offer good healthcare to the whole population, not just those who could afford to pay, and although the money has gone in – spending has risen from ₤50 billion ($100 billion) to ₤83 billion ($166 billion) since 2000 – cancers are still diagnosed at a later stage in patients living in poorer areas and intervention rates following a heart attack are still 30 per cent lower for the least well-off.
Poverty Falling Dramatically In Canada
Equating relative differences in incomes with poverty ignores important considerations like family assets and accumulated wealth. Even the well off who choose not to work and therefore report no income fall into the LICO stats. So do all families who earn less than half of the average family's income, even though that income can provide them with a comfortable standard of living.
Elliott Flett R.I.P.
Many parents who left the reserves watch sadly as their children are recruited into gangs. After escaping the political turmoil and poverty that often divides families on reserves, they face an even more stressful situation as their sons become drug dealers and their daughters are forced into the sex trade.
The Conservatives' Trade Sell-Out
On May 4th, WTO negotiators were on the verge of a consensus on how to reduce trade barriers. This agreement would have required at least some reduction in over-quota tariffs. In Canada, they exceed 300 per cent for some dairy products, yet Canada stood alone against the world and blocked this consensus agreement.
How Do Manitoba's First Nations Governments Measure Up?
People who are well and effectively governed are much more likely to prosper, and those who are not are more likely to experience a much narrower range of opportunity and choices for economic advancement. The statistics on aboriginal poverty in Canada and Manitoba confirm that we have a problem. In that context, research that discovers whether or not good governance exists in First Nations goes to the heart of that problem.
The Devil in the Donuts - PowerPoint
These slides accompany the speech by Rolf Penner at the Frontier Policy Briefing entitled "The Devil in the Donuts", which discusses the shaky science between the looming ban on trans fats.

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Fri February 3, 2012

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