Study
| EST. READ TIME 2 MIN.Fraser Forum - May 2010: 2008/2009 Recession
In this issue:
Canada fares well in annual Mining Survey
by Fred McMahon and Miguel Cervantes
Mining industry executives have rated Quebec the world’s best jurisdiction for mineral exploration and development for the third straight year.
Ontario’s 2010 budget piles on the debt
by Milagros Palacios and Charles Lammam
Due to out-of-control government spending, Ontario’s debt will grow by an alarming $74.6 billion or 38.6% over the next three years.
Canadians hand over 42% of their income to government
by Milagros Palacios and Niels Veldhuis
Last year, the average Canadian family earned approximately $69,1752 and paid $9,341 in income taxes. Personal income taxes, however, represent only about one-third of Canadians’ total tax bill.
Reducing opportunities for Ontario’s youth
by Amela Karabegovic and Niels Veldhuis
Ontario’s recent minimum wage hike will rob young workers of the chance to participate in the labour market and gain the skills and experience they need to succeed in today’s workplace.
The unsustainable growth of government health care spending
by Mark Rovere
Only market-based reforms can save our ailing provincial health care systems.
The “Great Recession”?
by Amela Karabegovic and Niels Veldhuis
Contrary to popular belief, the 2008/2009 recession was not the worst one since the Great Depression or the Second World War.
The stimulus didn’t work
by Niels Veldhuis and Charles Lammam
The latest data from Statistics Canada show that government stimulus had a negligible effect on Canada’s economic turnaround in the second half of 2009.
Research or rhetoric?
by Niels Veldhuis and Charles Lammam
A vast body of academic research casts serious doubt on the notion that government stimulus spending can boost economic activity.
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Fred McMahon
Resident Fellow, Dr. Michael A. Walker Chair in Economic Freedom
Fred McMahon is a Fraser Institute Resident Fellow and holder of the Dr. Michael A. Walker Chair in Economic Freedom.He has an M.A. in Economics from McGill University. Mr. McMahon manages the Economic Freedom of the World Project and coordinates the Economic Freedom Network, an international alliance of over 100 think tank partners in about 100 nations and territories. His research focuses on global issues such as development, trade, governance and economic structure. Mr. McMahon is the author of numerous research articles and several books including, Looking the Gift Horse in the Mouth: The Impact of Federal Transfers on Atlantic Canada, which won the Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award for advancing public policy debate, Road to Growth: How Lagging Economies Become Prosperous, and Retreat from Growth: Atlantic Canada and the Negative Sum Economy.He has written for numerous publications including the European Journal of Political Economy, the SAIS Journal (School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University), the Wall Street Journal, Policy Options, National Post, Time (Canada), Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen, and most other major Canadian newspapers. Research articles he has recently authored or co-authored include: Economic Freedom of North America, Quebec Prosperity: Taking the Next Step, The Unseen Wall: The Fraser Institute's Annual Trade Survey, and Economic Freedom of the Arab World.… Read more -
Charles Lammam
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Milagros Palacios
Director, Addington Centre for Measurement, Fraser InstituteMilagros Palacios is the Director for the Addington Centre for Measurement at the Fraser Institute. She holds a B.S. in IndustrialEngineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and a M.Sc. in Economics from the University of Concepcion, Chile. Ms. Palacios has studied public policy involving taxation, government finances, investment, productivity, labour markets, and charitable giving, for nearly 10 years. Since joining the Institute, Ms. Palacios has authored or coauthored over 70 comprehensive research studies, 70 commentaries and four books. Her recent commentaries have appeared in major Canadian newspapers such as the National Post, Toronto Sun, Windsor Star, and Vancouver Sun.… Read more -
Niels Veldhuis
President, Fraser InstituteNiels Veldhuis serves as President of the Fraser Institute, Canada’s most influential think tank.In his over 20-plus-year career in publicpolicy, Niels has authored six books and more than 50 peer-reviewed studies on a wide range of economic topics. In 2011, he was awarded (along with his co-authors) the prestigious Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award for the best-selling book, The Canadian Century.Highly regarded for his opinions and perspectives on major economic and social issues, Niels appears regularly in the media across Canada and the United States. He has written hundreds of commentaries that have appeared in over 50 newspapers, including the Globe and Mail, Wall Street Journal, National Post, and The Economist.Known for his ability to explain matters of economics and government policy in a down-to-earth and easily understood manner, Niels travels widely across North America. His speaking engagements extend to diverse audiences, including business groups, corporate gatherings, community organizations, and students.Niels has had the privilege of sharing the stage and moderating discussions with prominent business and political leaders from around the world. Notable individuals include Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and BC Premier Gordon Campbell. He has also moderated discussions with distinguished Canadian journalists such as Chantal Herbert, Andrew Coyne, and Rex Murphy, as well as diplomats such as Canada’s Ambassador to China and Israel’s Ambassador to Canada. Niels moderated a discussion between United States Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush in 2011 and has facilitated conversations with impactful authors like Mosab Hassan Yousef (author of "Son of Hamas") and Lord Conrad Black.Niels Veldhuis is an alumnus of Simon Fraser University, was one of Vancouver’s Top 40 under 40 by Business in Vancouver in 2010, and is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).… Read more