The federal government’s plan to lower prescription drug prices could impede access and thus limit the benefits of life-saving drugs and discourage innovation, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board...

Any discussion of the upcoming provincial budget includes exchanges about how to contain ever-increasing health care costs. Health care is by far the greatest provincial government expenditure and physician compensation – at about nine per cent – is a significant share of the BC budget. This important area of health policy,...

This post is part of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives BC Budget 2019 series by Ben Parfitt, which highlights key findings from the CCPA’s research and outlines our recommendations for the 2019 provincial budget. Natural resource revenues account for $2.7 billion or 5.2 per cent of provincial revenues. Resource...

To The Editor: At the January 7 city council meeting, the Nelson City administration recommended to councillors that recycling rates remain the same. They then casually tacked on a resolution to not participate in the RDCK’s regional composting plan. And asked councillors to vote. For neophytes who have no experience with...

Until recently, Alberta benefitted from one of the most pro-growth tax policy environments in North America. As recently as 2014, the province had the lowest top statutory combined federal and provincial or state personal income tax (PIT) and corporate income tax (CIT) rates of any Canadian province or American state....

The mineral exploration and mining sector has long provided good middle class jobs for Canadians. Across the country, Canada’s mining sector directly and indirectly employs 634,000 Canadians, including over 30,000 in British Columbia alone. These jobs are critical for supporting our strong economy and communities throughout...

Top business leaders — like top athletes, musicians and actors — receive high levels of compensation because they are in high demand around the world and not easily replaced, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Top performers in any industry,...

For the first time in human history, our environmental impacts are happening at a scale that is affecting all life on Earth. The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that time may be running out for effective action on climate change. Our list of globallythreatened wildlife has grown to over ...

Premier John Horgan has issued the following statement marking New Year's Day 2019: "The beginning of a new year is a time to look forward to all the opportunities that lie ahead of us, while taking stock of the accomplishments and challenges of the past year. We resolve to do better. We set new goals. "Looking back on 2018,...

People living in the northern hemisphere have brought trees and boughs into their homes during the winter for thousands of years. The evergreens that we decorate with during Christmas can represent a celebration of holidays and a reminder that spring will come again. I’m a Christmas tree traditionalist, and will never give ...