The median wait time for Canadians seeking medically necessary surgery or other therapeutic treatment remains stalled at 18.2 weeks, same as 2013, finds the 24th annual wait times report by the Fraser Institute. The study examines the total wait time faced by patients from referral by a general practitioner, to consultation with a specialist, and … Read more
On the strength of its petroleum reserves, Alberta remains the most attractive province for oil and gas investment in Canada, finds the Fraser Institute’s annual Global Petroleum Survey. “Alberta’s wealth of petroleum reserves continue to attract investment, which creates jobs for scores of Canadians,” said Kenneth Green, senior director of the Fraser Institute’s Centre for Natural Resources. … Read more
Jordan and the United Arab Emirates are the most economically free nations in the Arab world, according to the annual Economic Freedom of the Arab World report published by the Fraser Institute and released in Amman, Jordan in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty and the International Research Foundation of Oman. “Economic freedom increases prosperity, creates … Read more
Alberta and Saskatchewan offer the most opportunity for young Canadians while Ontario and Quebec mimic the economic malaise of Atlantic Canada, finds a new study released by the Fraser Institute. “Western Canada is the land of opportunity while Ontario and Quebec, the two most populous provinces, now resemble Atlantic Canada with its gloomy economic outlook and relatively poor … Read more
After a four-year hiatus, the Fraser Institute’s Report Card on Quebec’s Secondary Schools is back. The 2014 Report Card ranks 461 public, private, francophone and anglophone schools based largely on results from provincewide tests in French, English, science, mathematics and history. “The Report Card provides parents and educators with objective information that’s difficult to find anywhere else, which is … Read more
With a federal budget surplus looming, a new book released by the Fraser Institute spotlights three possible options for reducing capital gains taxes in Canada. “As the debate about how to prioritize the budget surplus continues, evidence from around the world clearly shows that capital gains tax reform in Canada could provide considerable economic bang … Read more
Unless the Ontario government reverses course on its transformation of the province’s electricity system, power rates will continue to soar, finds a new study released by the Fraser Institute. “Over the past decade, electricity prices in Ontario have skyrocketed, and they’ll continue to rise unless the province starts to put the interests of ordinary Ontarians … Read more
Capital gains taxes stifle investment, discourage entrepreneurship, and damage Canada’s economy, notes a new essay released by the Fraser Institute. “While capital gains taxes raise a small amount of revenues for government, they do so at considerable economic cost by reducing returns on investment, which discourages private sector investment and entrepreneurship—two things we need more … Read more
Provincial governments have the power to change or cancel legally binding agreements, notes a new essay released by the Fraser Institute. “Government contracts are not the ironclad agreements they appear to be because governments may change or cancel them by enacting legislation,” said Bruce Pardy, Professor of Law at Queen’s University and author of “Cancelling Contracts: The Power of Governments … Read more
With municipal elections around the corner, a new study from the Fraser Institute spotlights and compares government finances in 17 municipalities across Metro Vancouver. “Municipal governments across the region provide important public services, but their tax and spending policies tend not to receive a whole lot of scrutiny. Our report helps taxpayers and voters better … Read more
