Publications

Merit Pay for Teachers Not Such a Bad Thing – January 28, 2013
If implemented properly, merit pay is a reform that could be used to reward effective teachers.

Warming Lies: More Ratty Data – January 22, 2013
The National Climatic Data Center wrongly declared July 2012 as America‘s hottest July ever — and hasn‘t corrected itself.

Fiddling on the roof: Can $10 million in prize money spark a solar revolution? – January 22, 2013
Want to know the real reason that rooftop solar panels haven’t spread across the United States yet? Slap a few panels on your roof some night and wait for the local code enforcer to notice them. Then count the citations as they roll in.

Book Review - Eco-Fascists: How Radical Conservationists are Destroying our Natural Heritage – January 22, 2013
In today’s society, few issues rile up people as much as the environment. You know the drill: Everyone has to go green, make an ecological impact, control your carbon footprint, keep the planet sustainable, manufacture biodegradable products, tackle climate change and so on. The environmental movement’s never-ending supply of manufactured talking points are enough to make your head explode.

Safety Seats on Planes Don’t Necessarily Make Kids Safer – January 22, 2013
As every mom or dad knows, infants travelling by car must be firmly strapped into a government-tested, properly installed (and often maddeningly complicated) car seat. Failure on this account can earn you a hefty fine and demerit points. Flying with your kids, on the other hand, is a whole other matter.

The Carbon Trading Money Tree – January 21, 2013
The COP-18 environmental conference held in Doha has come and gone. In the wake of high expectations for a successor treaty, the Kyoto Protocol was extended, but only after bitter debate – and several countries have withdrawn from the process or signalled their intent to do so.

Media Release – Frontier Centre Releases 9th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey – January 21, 2013
The 9th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey was released by the Frontier Centre today. The survey encompasses 337 metro areas in the English speaking world, including 35 in Canada. Canadian housing affordability decreased slightly in 2012, despite decreases in unaffordability in several BC markets, including Vancouver.

9th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey – January 21, 2013
9th Annual Housing Demographia International Housing Affordability Study.

Common Sense Needed in School Discipline Policies – January 18, 2013
When it comes to student discipline, schools often veer into one of two extremes: implementing draconian zero-tolerance policies or bending over backwards to accommodate troublemakers. Students have the right to a safe and orderly learning environment.

“Let’s all meet in Honolulu. It’s cheaper than flying home to Toronto”: the problem with Canadian air fares – January 18, 2013
Canadians are crossing the border into the United States to fly from American airports because departing from Canada is much more expensive. In fact, Canadians make up over half of the passengers departing from some American airports near the border. This is a result of government policy.

Change the Culture of Rape – January 18, 2013
India is an economic giant embracing modernization, yet the concept of honour is still linked to sexual purity. In December 2012, 23-year-old Jyoti Singh Pandey boarded a bus on her way home with a male friend after watching a movie at a mall. Six men drove the bus around New Delhi for two and half hours while they raped her with an iron rod, and she died thirteen days later.

Buchanan defined the Iron Triangle – January 17, 2013
James Buchanan, known as one of the founders of public choice economics, has just passed away. Public choice economics is essentially the economics of politics and how organized special interests dominate policy-making.

Muskrat Falls: Why We Need a Regulatory Review - Part One – January 17, 2013
Ron Penney and David Vardy examine the risks associated with the planned Muskrat Falls hydroelectric mega-project in Atlantic Canada.

Mark Lynas - Lecture to Oxford Farming Conference – January 17, 2013
I want to start with some apologies. For the record, here and upfront, I apologise for having spent several years ripping up GM crops. I am also sorry that I helped to start the anti-GM movement back in the mid 1990s, and that I thereby assisted in demonising an important technological option which can be used to benefit the environment.

Muskrat Falls: Why We Need a Regulatory Review - Part Two – January 17, 2013
Ron Penney and David Vardy examine the risks associated with the planned Muskrat Falls hydroelectric mega-project in Atlantic Canada.

An Activist Recants on GM Foods – January 16, 2013
Environmental journalist Mark Lynas used to think that genetically modified crops were evil. But now, Mr. Lynas has recanted. He admits he was unequivocally, disastrously wrong about GM foods, and he’s offering his apology.

To Solve Native Issues, Focus more on the Indians and Less on the Chiefs – January 15, 2013
The country’s most famous hunger striker has declined to declare victory and moved the aspirational goal posts after successfully hijacking the Prime Minister’s schedule. Canadians are divided as to whether she is a Northern Ontario Mother Teresa or an incompetent small town administrator on a highly publicized weight loss program.

We have met the 1%, and he is us – January 15, 2013
In explanation of my title, I fear I’ll have to go on a bit of a digression. Let me tell three stories, about people in three different parts of our amazing planet.

Trampling on People, Environment, Science and Ethics – January 15, 2013
Policy integrity. Ethical culture. Environmental protection. Environmental defense. Friends of earth. Defenders of wildlife. Ethical investing. Not just their names, but their charter, culture and policies – their very being – represent a commitment to these profound values. Or so we are supposed to believe.

Who Are the 'Deniers' Now? – January 15, 2013
Last year The Mail on Sunday reported a stunning fact: that global warming had ‘paused’ for 16 years. The Met Office’s own monthly figures showed there had been no statistically significant increase in the world’s temperature since 1997.