Drinking Local: Round Two
Last week’s article on local producers of alcoholic beverages drew a lot of correspondence. Some of it was supportive, but most found the argument unsatisfactory. The matter merits further exploration.
Many readers think the tax versus subsidy argument is a valid test:
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Posted January 20, 2017
Conflict of Interest
Suppose that in 2014 you were interested in building a new house, one more environmentally friendly than your current dwelling which, in any event, will be wearing out by the early 2020s.
Posted June 9, 2017
Politicians Have Trouble Understanding Power Rates
Both the engineering and the finances of electric utilities are devilishly difficult to understand. At the same time, the cost of electricity is politically sensitive, as is the environmental impact of any form of generation—including fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables. Premiers meddling in areas that they don’t fully understand often create big problems for their provinces and for themselves.
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Posted August 5, 2016
Chasing The Jobs
This week’s Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) announcement of a big payroll rebate agreement with IBM has sparked a renewed debate on the appropriateness of the program.
That announcement increased the number of possible jobs added from 500 to 750 and the average salary from $50,000 to $73,500. The maximum achievable incentive increased by $10.4 million to $22.6 million.
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Posted March 24, 2017
Promises, Promises: Chapter 2
It was noted in this space a year ago that the Trudeau government was walking back from some of its ill-considered promises. The trend continues.
Posted June 23, 2017
Be Open About Health Care Challenges
Debate about health care in Canada would be more enlightening if it focused on the pertinent facts. Unfortunately, this rarely happens.
Posted June 16, 2017
A Tale Of Two Government Programs
In early February, there were two strikingly different news reports about the economy of Southwestern Nova Scotia.
The first was a CBC report on Riverside Lobster International, a seafood processor in Meteghan.
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Posted March 3, 2017
Making Schools Work
The Council to Improve Classroom Conditions is steaming along. In the process of addressing particular issues, it is revealing some larger truths.
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Posted April 28, 2017
CPP Changes: Don’t Pop The Champagne
The proposed changes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) were agreed to on June 20th by the federal government and all the provinces except Manitoba and Quebec. They are mildly useful, and will have some unexpected consequences.
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Posted July 8, 2016
Building Boom
More than two years ago, one of Halifax’s prominent developers was asked whether he was worried about there being too much product on the drawing board, or already underway.
His response was, “Either we are all right or we are all crazy.”
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Posted June 3, 2016
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Transit Choices
A study of the possibilities for commuter rail is underway. It looks expensive. That is not the only option that should be considered. Read More »
Posted March 13, 2015