By 2013 the Conservative government had cut overall federal taxes and other revenues to the lowest rate seen in more than 70 years. Between 2011 and March 2015, 25,000 to 30,000 federal public sector positions were eliminated. Between 2010 and 2015, 4,766 civil service jobs were lost in the prairie…
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It’s always nice to be recognized. So it was a pleasant surprise to see both Minister Don McMorris and the Saskatchewan Party address our latest study on the government’s liquor privatization plan. Unfortunately, both the Minister and the Saskatchewan Party appear to be struggling with some of the math involved…
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One of the best parts of being a teacher is when students let you know they appreciate the work you do. It happens more than you might think. Despite the common, timeless sentiment that kids-today-ain’t-got-no-respect, students do express their appreciation in lots of ways: a thank-you in passing, a question…
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Maybe you take the quietude of the holiday season as a time to unplug and reflect. Maybe, like me, you curl up with a pile of progressive reading that you’ve been meaning to catch up on. If so, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Ontario office is at your service. Embrace your…
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“Sadly our loving dog of 14 years has died. We received many kind notes from friends and acquaintances. Our letter carrier just noticed the dog’s rope was gone and knocked on the door to offer his condolences. What’s that worth?” — Message from recently bereaved friend There are a host of reasons…
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100 million: according to a city staff report, that was the total usage of Toronto’s public libraries in 2014, making it the busiest year since 2005. Public libraries are hugely popular in Toronto — per capita, they’re among the busiest in North America. Despite a rise in public library usage,…
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According to the government, austerity exists only in the minds of its critics. Of course, efforts are required to restore the state’s financial health, but that’s only “rigour.” Trimming the fat. Making what already exists more efficient. But without affecting services. Reality nonetheless catches up with the spin fed to…
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Every summer, the Fraser Institute releases a report pointing out the average family now spends more on taxes than food, clothing and shelter. But is it really a bad thing that as our economy grows we spend less of our income on basic survival and more on better education, better…
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One of the strangest arguments advanced for the Ontario government’s sell-off of revenue-generating assets is that Ontario has to do it because it can’t borrow enough to support the province’s infrastructure renewal requirements. It is a strange argument at a number of levels. First, there is absolutely no evidence that…
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If you just read the words, and didn’t look at the numbers, Ontario’s 2015 budget is a magical integration of the government’s high-profile infrastructure and pension initiatives with the need to maintain the public services that Ontarians count on. The budget devotes page after page to trumpeting the government’s commitments…
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