The Liberals’ Budget Promises Lots of Cheques But Avoids Tough Questions
This week’s federal budget filled 464 pages. By comparison, Bill Morneau’s first budget in 2016 only needed a skimpy 271. Some of the topics covered:
Posted March 22, 2019
All Four Climate Change Policies Are Out Of Touch With Reality
Comparing the climate change policies of the federal parties is a depressing experience. Let’s start with the Liberals, looking first at their performance to date.
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Posted October 11, 2019
Another Bad Day for Electricity Customers in Nova Scotia
The energy from Muskrat Falls is not going to be available until at least 2020. But the transmission lines are all built at a cost exceeding $1.5 billion. You are going to pay the interest on that debt while we wait.
Posted September 15, 2017
The Ferry Saga Shows How Not To Manage A Transportation Project
The government’s management of the Yarmouth Ferry has been a fiasco. We should worry about what this says about other projects.
In August last year, Bay Ferries, operator of the ferry, reported that it was meeting with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) representatives to discuss requirements and costs associated with potentially starting up ferry service to Bar Harbor, Maine, instead of Portland, Maine, which has been the service used for the most recent three years.
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Posted July 19, 2019
Party Leaders Prove Conclusively That “Better Is Always Possible”
Five of the Federal party leaders have reasons to be disappointed by the result of Monday’s election. Their close advisers were likely part of the problem so they can’t be relied upon for candid criticism of the campaigns.
Therefore, as a public service, herewith are some unsolicited thoughts.
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Posted October 25, 2019
Electronic Health Records—Little Has Been Spent, and Little Has Been Achieved
The idea that a health care system should have electronic records of tests and procedures for each patient is extremely attractive.
The path of those who pursue the dream is littered with disappointment and delay, but there are important successes.
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Posted August 23, 2019
The Americans Have a Real Problem on Their Southern Border. So Could We.
Donald Trump’s efforts to constrain the flow of asylum seekers at America’s southern border are cruel, racist, and ineffective. The polarizing nature of his tactics obscures the reality of the underlying issue.
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Posted August 2, 2019
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Can The Government And The Teachers Union Get Along?
In 2015, the Liberal government issued an ambitious plan for improving our schools. Of particular importance were the recommendations for changes to be negotiated with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU). There have been many bends in the road since then.
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Posted October 4, 2019
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The Teachers’ Plan Deficit Needs to be Addressed
The government and the Nova Scotia Teachers Union are doing a disservice to taxpayers and today’s teachers, who are paying for the inadequacy of past contributions by and for the teachers that retired long ago.
In contrast, the public-sector pension plans for civil service and health care workers are well-funded and can be expected to keep their promises to pensioners over the long term.
Posted May 18, 2018
There Is No Business Case For The Football Stadium
A year ago this month, an article in this space questioned the proposal for a football stadium in Halifax. The recently released update from Schooners Sports and Entertainment (SSE) confirms some of the year-ago concerns and adds new ones. Some of today’s text is repeated from a year ago.
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Posted November 8, 2019
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