Canada and Australia share many common cultural, economic, governmental, political, and socio-economic characteristics, yet few researchers have carried out comparative analyses of their public policy experiences. These two papers— the first by Stephen Kirchner, the second by Sean Speer and Jason Clemens— are another step in the Fraser Institute's effort to fill this gap.

Over the next decade, more than 600 major resource projects worth approximately $650 billion are planned for Canada. First Nations communities have a unique opportunity to benefit from these developments: every oil and gas project currently proposed in western Canada implicates at least one First Nations community.

In recent years, evidence has accumulated that regional subsidies incorporated in federal programs are substantial, affect all parts of Canada, and often have a direct impact on everyday life. These arrangements are not well understood because the funding directed to them is entwined with activities serving other purposes.