Interest payments exceed $60 billion as Canadian governments continue racking up debt
Interest payments on government debt in Canada consume substantial shares of taxpayer dollars and come at the expense of other budget priorities, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. The study, The Cost of Government Debt in Canada, finds...
B.C.'s economy: up, down and sideways
'Tis the season of lists and stocking stuffers of economic forecasts. But instead of soothsaying over what could happen in 2016, a look back at B.C.'s economic performance over the past few years might be more illuminating. Deciphering economic forecasts is a murky task anyways, not that interpreting statistics is any less ...
CBT shifts gears with new Board Chair to guide the Trust
Columbia Basin Trust will have a Chair as of the New Year following some changes to its Board of Directors. Cranbrook resident Rick Jensen will take over after current Chair Greg Deck announced his retirement. Jensen joined the Trust Board in 2013 and served as Vice-Chair in 2015. The three-term mayor of Cranbrook is the Chair...
Manitobans give the most in Canada as donations on the decrease
The holiday season is a time to reflect on the value of charity, yet fewer Canadians are donating to registered charities—and those who give are giving less in every province, finds a new study by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. The study, Generosity in Canada and the...
Fortis to ring in New Year with hike in electricity rates
Ed. note: The following is a press release issued by FortisBC. FortisBC has received regulatory approval for a 2.96 per cent increase for electricity rates to take effect January 1, 2016. “We recognize the importance of electricity to daily lives and we are dedicated to meeting customers’ expectations for safe, reliable service...
Economic Freedom of North America 2015
Economic Freedom of North America 2015 is the 11th edition of our annual report, in which we measure the extent to which policies of individual provinces and states are supportive of economic freedom — the ability of individuals to act in the economic sphere free of undue restrictions. For researchers, this report has become...
Burning cleaner — Wood Stove Exchange Program benefits communities
As winter’s cold embrace descends upon B.C., the Ministry of Environment is providing over $190,000 to 13 communities and regional districts as part of the Provincial Wood Stove Exchange Program. Since 2008, the B.C. government, in partnership with the BC Lung Association, has helped British Columbians replace their older...
Solar garden a 'done deal' Nelson Hydro manager declares
With only three panels left to sell and less than one week left in the pre-sales deadline, Nelson Hydro’s general manager has declared the city’s solar garden project a go. Alex Love said that 147 panels in the pre sales event have been sold — nearly 75 per cent of the total project — giving the city’s utility enough financial...
New rules help B.C. residents get out of debt
Getting your finances back on track should not leave you penniless. To help British Columbia residents crawl out from under those mountains of debt, the province is following through on a commitment to regulate the debt settlement industry, making sure individuals and families can pay what they owe, without being taken advantage...
Oil and gas sector losing confidence in Alberta as a place to invest
The Alberta government’s energy policy changes have contributed to a plunge in investor confidence, according to the annual global survey of petroleum sector executives released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank. The 2015 Global Petroleum Survey rates 126 jurisdictions...
