— Aug 29, 2024

End of Accountability in BC High School Student Performance

The End of Accountability in British Columbia High School Student Performance finds that the B.C. government’s new student “assessments” in high schools are much less valuable and useful than the previous exams in measuring student and school performance.

Understanding Alberta’s Outsized Contribution to Confederation

— Aug 13, 2024

Understanding Alberta’s Outsized Contribution to Confederation finds that from 2007 and 2022, Albertans’ contributed $244.6 billion to the federal government in taxes and other payments in excess of the money Ottawa spent or transferred to Alberta – more than five times as much as was contributed (on net) by either British Columbians or Ontarians.

Reforming British Columbia’s Carbon Tax Plan

— Aug 9, 2024

Reforming British Columbia’s Carbon Tax Plan is the latest installment in the Institute’s series spotlighting potential policy reforms for British Columbia. It shows that BC’s current carbon tax has serious design flaws that unnecessarily harm the economy, and highlights ways the province could mitigate those negative economic impacts, while still achieving its goal.

Ontario Premiers and Provincial Government Spending, 2024

— Aug 1, 2024

Ontario Premiers and Provincial Government Spending, 2024 finds that despite political rhetoric while in opposition, the Ontario government of Premier Doug Ford has recorded two of the three highest per person spending levels since 1965, even excluding COVID-related one-time spending. In fact, Premier Ford’s highest per person spending levels ($12,227 in 2020 and $12,081 in 2021, excluding COVID spending) surpass former Premier Kathleen Wynne’s highest spending level: $11,101 in 2017.

An Alberta Dividend: The Key to Growing the Heritage Fund

— Jul 25, 2024

An Alberta Dividend: The Key to Growing the Heritage Fund is a new study that finds if Alberta's Heritage Fund were prioritized with specific fiscal rules and began paying dividends to Albertans, it would be worth between $35.8 billion and $38.7 billion by 2026/27–all while paying out between $2.9 billion to $5.5 billion in dividends to Albertans.

A New Fiscal Framework for British Columbia

— Jul 9, 2024

A New Fiscal Framework for British Columbia finds that the B.C. government should stop relying on volatile boom-and-bust resource revenues—like the Alberta government—and fundamentally change its fiscal approach.