Fraser Institute

Precedents exist for reversing the forced amalgamation of Canadian municipalities

TORONTO—Municipalities forced to amalgamate by their provincial governments can reverse the process, given the right set of circumstances, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Nearly every province in Canada has gone through some form of municipal restructuring over the past three decades,” said Lydia Miljan, Fraser Institute senior fellow and co-author of De-Amalgamation in Canada: Breaking Up is Hard to Do.

Growth in government employment outpacing private sector, especially in Ontario

TORONTO— The public sector in Canada (including federal, provincial and local government employees) is growing and reaching proportions not seen since the early 1990s—an era marked by large government deficits and high debt—finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. The study, An Analysis of Public and Private Sector Employment Trends in Canada, notes that, from 2003 to 2013, employment in Canada’s public sector increased by 22.6 per cent, more than double the rate of increase in the private sector (10.7 per cent).

Political labels aside, Alberta Premier Notley should learn lessons from other NDP premiers

CALGARY—Faced with a faltering economy and a large budget deficit, Alberta’s recently-elected New Democratic government would be better off emulating the fiscal prudence of Roy Romanow’s NDP government in Saskatchewan — rather than the tax and spend policies implemented by Bob Rae’s NDP in Ontario — concludes a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan think-tank.

Ontario racks up debt while ‘Rust Belt’ states largely balance their books

TORONTO—Despite a faster-growing stronger economy, Ontario has racked up more government debt than the nearby “Rust Belt” states in the U.S., finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. The study, Ontario vs. the U.S. “Rust Belt”: Coping with a Changing Economic World, compares the economic and fiscal performance of Ontario and Quebec with Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois between 1999 and 2013.

More Canadian parents opting for home-schooling their children; 29 per cent increase between 2007 and 2012

TORONTO--An increasing number of Canadian families are choosing to home-school their children, according to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. The study, Home Schooling in Canada: The Current Picture--2015, notes that 21,662 Canadian children were registered as 'home-school students' (with likely more not officially registered) in 2012, an increase of 29 per cent over a five-year period.

June 10 is Tax Freedom Day, when Canadians start working for themselves and not government

VANCOUVER—Tax Freedom Day for the average Canadian family falls on June 10 this year—one day later than in 2014, according to the Fraser Institute’s annual calculations.

Government employees in Canada paid 9.7% more than comparable employees in private-sector

TORONTO—Government employees in Canada receive higher wages and likely more generous non-wage benefits than their private-sector counterparts, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Governments missing the mark on energy and environmental regulations

TORONTO—Policymakers have encumbered Canadians with superfluous and needlessly costly environmental regulations that do little to improve the environment, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Municipal amalgamation in Ontario fails to achieve cost savings in cities both big and small

TORONTO—Ontario’s push for municipal amalgamation in the 1990s has failed to deliver cost-savings and efficiencies promised for both large and small cities, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Concern about Canadian household debt levels overblown when assets, other measures taken into account

OTTAWA—Notwithstanding headlines to the contrary, there is little evidence that Canadian households are being irresponsible in taking on new debt, finds a study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Screening foreign acquisitions may discourage Canadian entrepreneurship, economic growth

VANCOUVER—The Investment Canada Act, which screens foreign acquisitions of Canadian companies, does not serve the interests of Canadians, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Number of firefighters in Ontario balloons while number of fires drops dramatically

VANCOUVER—Over a 16-year period, the number of firefighters in Ontario rose significantly despite a dramatic drop in the number of fires, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Canada’s single-payer health care system not the best model for providing universal prescription drug insurance

VANCOUVER—The experience of other nations shows there are several options for introducing a universal drug insurance program, and it should not be based on the single-payer government-run option currently being debated in Canada, concludes a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan think-tank.

With the income tax deadline looming, Canadians challenged by an increasingly complex tax system

VANCOUVER —As deadline day approaches for filing personal income tax returns, Canadians are being forced to wrestle with an ever evolving tax system that is much more complicated than it was in the 1990s, finds a new study by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Fraser Institute ranks academic performance of 749 Ontario secondary schools

TORONTO—The Fraser Institute today published its annual ranking of Ontario secondary schools, illustrating that all types of schools are capable of improvement and achievement regardless of their characteristics and those of their students.

Lesson for Canada: economic freedom and entrepreneurship critical for economic growth

The importance of economic freedom in fostering entrepreneurship and small business creation is clearly demonstrated by the sluggish economic recovery of the United States following the 2008 recession, concludes a new book jointly published today by the Fraser Institute and the Mercatus Institute in Virginia.

Rate of business start-ups dropping as Canada's population ages; capital gains tax reform an option

TORONTO-- An aging population is stunting entrepreneurism in Canada, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. "A great deal has been written about the positive link between entrepreneurship and economic growth. What's being ignored, however, is the increasing evidence of a relationship between entrepreneurship and age," said Jason Clemens, co-author of Entrepreneurship, Demographics and Capital Gains Tax Reform, and Fraser Institute vice president.

Supreme Court decisions creating economic uncertainty for First Nations, for Canada

CALGARY—Recent Supreme Court decisions on aboriginal rights and title are impeding, rather than helping, the economic prosperity of First Nation communities, according to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian policy think-tank.

Spending on Ontario government worker wages and benefits up 47 per cent in less than 10 years

VANCOUVER—Spending on government worker wages and benefits in Ontario has increased substantially since 2005/06, hindering the province’s ability to balance its books, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

More than 52,000 Canadians left the country for medical care in 2014

VANCOUVER—Large numbers of Canadians continue to venture abroad to seek medical care, according to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.