Frontier Centre

Urban sprawl is still regarded as undesirable by city planners, but the arguments against it are changing.

The planners have long maintained that limited development should be allowed beyond existing urban boundaries, as long as there are areas in the core that could be reclaimed and redeveloped.

One of the arguments against developing outward is that it will take valuable farmland out of production.

But that's a case that no longer holds the strength that it used to.

These days, less land is needed to produce food because farming has become more productive and the same output is harvested from fewer acres than 30 years ago.

More agricultural land in Canada has been taken out of production because it's simply no longer needed.

While urban sprawl poses little or no threat to agriculture, increasing urban density can mean more air pollution and traffic congestion.

In addition to health and environmental concerns, urban containment policies tend to drive up the cost housing.

This means families have less disposable income and a lower standard of living.

Municipalities should recognize these changing realities and ease land use regulations.

By doing so, they will help improve the air we breathe, and make housing affordable.

I'm Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on urban policy, visit our website www.fcpp.org.

Urban sprawl is still regarded as undesirable by city planners, but the arguments against it are changing.

The planners have long maintained that limited development should be allowed beyond existing urban boundaries, as long as there are areas in the core that could be reclaimed and redeveloped.

One of the arguments against developing outward is that it will take valuable farmland out of production.

But that's a case that no longer holds the strength that it used to.

These days, less land is needed to produce food because farming has become more productive and the same output is harvested from fewer acres than 30 years ago.

More agricultural land in Canada has been taken out of production because it's simply no longer needed.

While urban sprawl poses little or no threat to agriculture, increasing urban density can mean more air pollution and traffic congestion.

In addition to health and environmental concerns, urban containment policies tend to drive up the cost housing.

This means families have less disposable income and a lower standard of living.

Municipalities should recognize these changing realities and ease land use regulations.

By doing so, they will help improve the air we breathe, and make housing affordable.

I'm Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on urban policy, visit our website www.fcpp.org.

In less than a month, it will be back to class on Canada's university campuses.

Some schools like the University of Alberta, are more focused on research, while others, like Brandon University, concentrate more on teaching undergraduates.

Students enrolled in research-oriented universities will soon discover that teaching undergraduates is not a high priority.

In the research-oriented universities, students often find themselves in large classes, taught by less experienced recent graduates rather than veteran professors.

Such professors tend to be valued more for the research they produce, rather than on their teaching skills.

This means they have less time to focus on their students, even if they might want to.

As a result, students in research-oriented universities are receiving little support to succeed, and one in five students drop out after their first year.

Fewer than 60 percent of students in such universities will graduate within six years.

The quality of undergraduate education should not be compromised. Students deserve excellent courses and the teaching support they need to graduate.

Administrators and professors in research-universities should strive for new ways to strike a better balance between the two.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts

on the Frontier.

For more on education, visit our website, www.fcpp.org.

In less than a month, it will be back to class on Canada's university campuses.

Some schools like the University of Alberta, are more focused on research, while others, like Brandon University, concentrate more on teaching undergraduates.

Students enrolled in research-oriented universities will soon discover that teaching undergraduates is not a high priority.

In the research-oriented universities, students often find themselves in large classes, taught by less experienced recent graduates rather than veteran professors.

Such professors tend to be valued more for the research they produce, rather than on their teaching skills.

This means they have less time to focus on their students, even if they might want to.

As a result, students in research-oriented universities are receiving little support to succeed, and one in five students drop out after their first year.

Fewer than 60 percent of students in such universities will graduate within six years.

The quality of undergraduate education should not be compromised. Students deserve excellent courses and the teaching support they need to graduate.

Administrators and professors in research-universities should strive for new ways to strike a better balance between the two.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts

on the Frontier.

For more on education, visit our website, www.fcpp.org.

The controversy continues over hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking' , to enhance recovery of oil and gas.

Some places, such as France and the state of New York, have banned fracking because of fears that it might harm ground water, or possibly cause an earthquake.

Meanwhile, much of the world continues to rely heavily on coal as a source of energy.

Coal mining is more dangerous than fracking, and the burning of coal produces harmful emissions, including mercury and sulfur dioxide.

Fracking has been around for decades, but it can now be done horizontally and not just vertically.

This is positive news for the environment.

A single horizontal well can replace the need to drill a dozen or more vertical wells to access the same amount of resources.

This results in dramatically less impact on the surface than before.

Horizontal wells are especially useful to reach gas deposits that are under developed areas with roads and buildings.

Given its past record of success and these positive changes in the process, Canadians should promote fracking as a safe source of energy and a healthy alternative to mining and burning coal.

I'm Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on energy and the environment, visit our website www.fcpp.org.

The controversy continues over hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking' , to enhance recovery of oil and gas.

Some places, such as France and the state of New York, have banned fracking because of fears that it might harm ground water, or possibly cause an earthquake.

Meanwhile, much of the world continues to rely heavily on coal as a source of energy.

Coal mining is more dangerous than fracking, and the burning of coal produces harmful emissions, including mercury and sulfur dioxide.

Fracking has been around for decades, but it can now be done horizontally and not just vertically.

This is positive news for the environment.

A single horizontal well can replace the need to drill a dozen or more vertical wells to access the same amount of resources.

This results in dramatically less impact on the surface than before.

Horizontal wells are especially useful to reach gas deposits that are under developed areas with roads and buildings.

Given its past record of success and these positive changes in the process, Canadians should promote fracking as a safe source of energy and a healthy alternative to mining and burning coal.

I'm Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on energy and the environment, visit our website www.fcpp.org.

In five of Canada's provinces, including all three prairie provinces, barbers and hairstylists must be certified by a provincial regulatory body in order to do business.

It's what's known as a compulsory trade.

When a trade is voluntary, on the other hand, a person can seek certification if they desire but can legally work without it.

The designations are not at all consistent across the country.

In New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, bricklaying is a compulsory trade, but it is not in the western provinces.

In most provinces, plumbing is a compulsory trade, but not in Manitoba.

But you do have to be certified to be a nail technician in Manitoba.

With peculiarities such as this, Canadians might well wonder if such bureaucratic regulation is really necessary.

Voluntary certification is a useful option for workers who want to demonstrate to employers and clients that they have experience and adhere to professional standards, but the education and process that's needed to join a compulsory trade seems costly and somewhat irrelevant.

Such barriers to employment should be removed, and workers should be free to offer the highest quality of service without burdensome red tape.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on policies affecting the workplace, visit our website, www.fcpp.org.

In five of Canada's provinces, including all three prairie provinces, barbers and hairstylists must be certified by a provincial regulatory body in order to do business.

It's what's known as a compulsory trade.

When a trade is voluntary, on the other hand, a person can seek certification if they desire but can legally work without it.

The designations are not at all consistent across the country.

In New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, bricklaying is a compulsory trade, but it is not in the western provinces.

In most provinces, plumbing is a compulsory trade, but not in Manitoba.

But you do have to be certified to be a nail technician in Manitoba.

With peculiarities such as this, Canadians might well wonder if such bureaucratic regulation is really necessary.

Voluntary certification is a useful option for workers who want to demonstrate to employers and clients that they have experience and adhere to professional standards, but the education and process that's needed to join a compulsory trade seems costly and somewhat irrelevant.

Such barriers to employment should be removed, and workers should be free to offer the highest quality of service without burdensome red tape.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on policies affecting the workplace, visit our website, www.fcpp.org.

Elizabeth Nickson discusses her book "Eco-Fascists" on CFRA Radio.

Elizabeth Nickson discusses her book "Eco-Fascists" on CFRA Radio.