Publications

Should Manitoba Expand Ethanol Subsidies? – September 18, 2002
Rural Renaissance Notes commentary - ethanol subsidies will harm the livestock industry

Globalization Helps Poor Countries – September 13, 2002
Cato Institute study shows globalization benefits all countries

The Health Care Revolution in Stockholm – September 12, 2002
The first English-language introduction to the Stockholm County Council’s full-scale experiment in systematic change.

Broadening The Report Card On Manitoba Schools – September 11, 2002
Manitoba's Education Department recently released report card on public school performance revealed that one in ten students fail to pass at least once between Grades One and Eight. We need to go further and measure academic performance by embracing standards testing. While spending to public schools has been flat we need to ask why independent schools produce better test scores with lower per student costs. Other issues to explore include the impacts of "mainstreaming", a shift of spending to admin, and number of teaching days.

Dead Horses and Public Policy – September 10, 2002
The tribal wisdom of the Dakota Indians, passed on from generation to generation, says that when you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.

Health-Care Debit Card – September 9, 2002
Hit by the rising costs of administering and paying for employee health insurance, I & C Systems Engineering in Westbrook took an unusual step three months ago.

The Hard Facts About Softwood Lumber – September 4, 2002
Canada recently won another appeal at the World Trade Organization against new American tariffs on softwood lumber, but they will stay in place while lengthy appeals proceed.

In Praise of a Virtuous Circle – September 2, 2002
The silliest of seasons exists around global conferences of the United Nations, whether they address racism, poverty, children or the environment.

The West's Biggest Provincial Government – September 1, 2002
If Manitoba's provincial government spending as a percentage of its economy were at the Canadian average, it would have to reduce its spending by $1.6 billion or increase the size of the economy by $8.6 billion.

Ethanol: The Promise And The Peril – September 1, 2002
Manitoba has an established ethanol industry, and the Government of Manitoba is exploring whether to expand it. Ethanol is produced from wheat, in Manitoba, by means of fermentation. The ethanol is then blended with gasoline to produce ethanol-blended gasoline (EBG).

Nav Canada - A Model for Commercializing Public Enterprises – September 1, 2002
The search for optimal models of offering public services has its occasional successes. Notable among these in the last decade are reforms in the rules that govern public transportation.

Energy Hogs or Economic Powerhouse? – August 28, 2002
A new U.N. report criticizes North Americans for undercutting the environment by being excess consumers of energy.

Shift Priority Tax Emphasis to Land – August 21, 2002
The means to revitalize a downtown continue to befuddle many Canadian cities. Winnipeg is no exception, with a decidedly mixed outcome despite a potpourri of subsidies and other interventions to boost the central city.

More cash won't solve health-care problems – August 18, 2002
Canada has a comparatively young population for an industrialized nation yet it is the fourth highest spender on healthcare.

The Reality of Public Education in the 21st Century – August 18, 2002
Outcome-based education, the end of school boards, reforming teacher certification and school choice will be the main trends in public education

World Summit on Sustainable Development – August 15, 2002
The World Summit on Sustainable Development is being held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Health-care conflict hurts patients – August 10, 2002
Among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, Canada is unique in having no private-sector involvement in the hospital sector.

B.C. Moves To Reform Liquor – August 7, 2002
On July 24, British Columbia announced it will open up the retail liquor business and invite more private vendors to sell spirits to the public. The new policy has merits on its own, but even more important is its underlying principle.

Tuberculosis and Elk in Riding Mountain – August 1, 2002
Both the Federal and Manitoba governments need to move fast to contain and eliminate TB in and around Riding Mountain National park.

Low Farm Prices Won't Go Away – August 1, 2002
Continued low grain prices, bad weather and more farm subsidies evoke visions of tractors in the streets and more farm aid concerts on TV.