 Frontier Centre in the Media
A Taste of Reality for Alberta’s Public Sector
– April 1, 2013
There are more than a few politicians in Canada delighting in what’s happening in Alberta these days. For years, provincial leaders have been driven mad by the often obscene deals that Alberta has struck with its public-sector employees, making everyone from doctors to teachers the best paid in the country. Not surprisingly, those same professions in other provinces have used these wage benchmarks as targets of their own during contract negotiations.
Losing Sight Of The Issues
– December 21, 2012
Councillors have also spent time debating and voting on matters they have no power to actually address, whether it be banning shark-fin soup, opposing the Iraq War, or ending the NHL lockout -- just this week, a Vancouver city councillor put forward a motion to write a letter to the NHL and the players' association urging them to end the standoff (it passed).
Calgarians Deserve Details on Swollen Project Prices
– December 21, 2012
Whatever the process for tallying up a $1.4-billion bill, the West LRT still ranks as an insanely costly project, at $190 million per kilometre of track, or $42,000 and change per estimated daily rider according to a review done by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.
Where Did All Alberta's Money Go?
– January 23, 2012
Partisan political operators are battling to define the debate over one of the most explosive issues in the coming provincial election: Why can't a wealthy province like Alberta make ends meet?
Public Sector Wages Sap Alberta's Revenues
– January 20, 2012
Alberta's public sector wage bill has increased nearly twice as fast as the national aver-age over the past decade, according to a new University of Calgary study.
Council Tackles Shortage of Taxis
– December 20, 2011
City hall is contemplating a major overhaul of late-night cab and public transit service in Calgary, as holiday revellers com-plain they are being squeezed by a "perfect storm" of travel hindrances.
Citizens Can't Wait for Transparency
– November 22, 2011
According to Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claude Williams, "There is no fixed timeline for municipalities to be brought under the Right to Information and Access to Privacy Act." Apparently the provincial government has been consulting with municipalities about an appropriate timeline.
Is the City Making the Grade When it Comes to Transparency?
– October 13, 2011
Today's column, as was last week's, is in response to an article in this newspaper last week that read, in part: "City staff is fending off criticisms that it refused to disclose records on public spending, saying the municipality has made great strides to give the public access to government reports and budgets."
Tale of Many Cities Managing Growth
– August 3, 2011
I had an interesting chat the other day with my friend, Michael Zwaagstra, as we were visiting their place in Steinbach, Man. In addition to being a published author on the subject of education and a school teacher, Michael is also a second term city councillor for the City of Steinbach.
Kelowna Budget Carryover Requests Approved
– March 31, 2011
More than $94.2 million in operating and capital carryover expenditures will be added to the City of Kelowna 2011 budget.
Truth or Consequences: Your Call, Saint John
– February 28, 2011
Sometimes when I want to get a snapshot of what the people are thinking, I go to the newspaper's online site. At the top of the list, both in terms of most read and most commented, was "Pothole Pandemonium" (Feb. 18) with 33 comments mostly critical of the condition of our streets with literally hundreds of thumbs-up. However, one particular comment unrelated to the public's growing disenchantment with the condition of our streets caught my attention.
Housing Here Among World's Most Affordable
– February 4, 2011
Frontier Centre in the media from the Times & Transcript (Moncton).
Mayor Responds to Tax Report
– December 21, 2010
"Council is entering the 2011 budget planning process. This presents a great opportunity to review the findings of the report and ensure we provide good information in advance of budget setting to Council and the community."
New Website Measures Local Gov't Transparency
– December 21, 2010
A Canadian think tank has embarked on an effort to satisfy the public's growing thirst for information in a digital age where people demand instant information at their finger tips - and want a say in how they access it to boot.
Kevin Libin: Why a backward approach makes city taxes go higher
– December 18, 2010
Municipal tax hikes happen all the time. In most cities, denizens have come to accept them as an annual tradition, as arduous and inevitable as Lent or Yom Kippur. Still the question is: why do we accept them so apathetically? Canadians give no other level of government such easy licence.
Report Urges Reporting of Assets
– January 22, 2010
"The District of Maple Ridge ranked 59th out of 75 municipalities for financial reporting standards in a recent report by a right-wing think tank. The ranking was in a report by the Frontier Centre For Public Policy in its Local Government Performance Index 2009 report. The Centre is based out of Winnipeg."
Finances a Central Concern
– October 28, 2009
"Saskatoon voters are telling city council candidates they're concerned about how taxes and spending on expensive projects are affecting the city. It's become one of the central election issues."
Free Market Parking From Canada
– October 7, 2009
"In Canada, at least, there is such a thing as a free market think tank with a free market perspective on parking policy."
Exult: Mayor Not a Crook
– August 8, 2009
"Mayor Larry O’Brien has been found not guilty of influence peddling. How many municipalities can say with confidence that their mayor is not a criminal? This is the new yardstick by which we judge our politicians."
Report Calls for 'User-Pay' System
– July 14, 2009
"A local think-tank thinks the user-pay concept should apply to rural roads damaged by mining, forestry, oil and gas companies and other heavy users." |
