The Imperative of a Referendum is the first in a series of essays on electoral reform in Canada—spotlighting the conventions that guide governments seeking to change electorar rules (i.e. first-past-the-post).  The essay also examines whether or not any changes to Canada’s electoral system, without consent from the electorate via referendum, would be constitutional.

This year Tax Freedom Day falls on June 7.  Tax Freedom Day measures the total yearly tax burden imposed on Canadian families by all levels of government:  If you had to pay all your taxes up front, you’d give government every dollar you earned before June 7. This year, the average Canadian family (with two or more people) will pay $45,167 in total taxes or 42.9 per cent of its annual income.

The Sustainability of Health Care Spending in Canada spotlights projected government spending on health care over the next two decades. It finds that, in every province, health care spending is expected to consume an increasing portion of total program spending  triggering higher taxes, larger deficits, reduced spending or some combination of these three.