Frontier Centre

Australia has recently abolished what some have called the “world’s biggest carbon tax”.

It was designed to combat climate change by reducing emissions of carbon dioxide that result from the burning of fossil fuels.

Companies who produced emissions that exceeded a certain threshold were required to pay a hefty tax.

The Australian legislation was highly unpopular because the companies who were subject to it, simply passed the cost on to their customers and hurt the local economy.

Greenhouse gas emissions have been on the decline in Australia, but there is no consensus that the carbon tax is the reason.

Coal remains one of the primary energy sources, but the shift to natural gas and hydro electricity is growing.

The repeal of the carbon tax will enhance economic growth in Australia, and boost family income, thanks to lower utility bills.

As an alternative to the punitive tax, the government of Australia is proposing financial incentives to encourage businesses to improve their overall energy efficiency.

They are undoubtedly aware that governments elsewhere who have opted to levy a carbon tax, have soon paid a price at the ballot box in subsequent elections.

Hopefully governments in Canada will carefully consider what has occurred in Australia and avoid a carbon tax and its negative consequences.

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

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

Australia has recently abolished what some have called the “world’s biggest carbon tax”.

It was designed to combat climate change by reducing emissions of carbon dioxide that result from the burning of fossil fuels.

Companies who produced emissions that exceeded a certain threshold were required to pay a hefty tax.

The Australian legislation was highly unpopular because the companies who were subject to it, simply passed the cost on to their customers and hurt the local economy.

Greenhouse gas emissions have been on the decline in Australia, but there is no consensus that the carbon tax is the reason.

Coal remains one of the primary energy sources, but the shift to natural gas and hydro electricity is growing.

The repeal of the carbon tax will enhance economic growth in Australia, and boost family income, thanks to lower utility bills.

As an alternative to the punitive tax, the government of Australia is proposing financial incentives to encourage businesses to improve their overall energy efficiency.

They are undoubtedly aware that governments elsewhere who have opted to levy a carbon tax, have soon paid a price at the ballot box in subsequent elections.

Hopefully governments in Canada will carefully consider what has occurred in Australia and avoid a carbon tax and its negative consequences.

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

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

It was three years ago that Stephen Harper's Conservative government said it planned to introduce the First Nations Property Ownership Act, which would expand property rights for Canada's Aboriginal people, but we still haven't seen the legislation.

Such an Act would create a voluntary system of transferring title of reserve land from the Crown to an individual First Nation.

The First Nation could then choose to divide up the land and give individual title to band members living on the reserve.

Giving such property rights to Aboriginal people would allow them greater opportunity to improve their economies and give families better living conditions on First Nations.

Right now First Nations are prevented from fully participating in the economy by review processes and legal restrictions because their land is held in trust by the Crown.

The United States provides evidence of a more effective system.

Native American land that has been privatized has a stronger economic base than the land that's still held in trust.

Canada's First Nations have a good track record when it comes to embracing voluntary initiatives, and Ottawa's recent bad experience in trying to reform Aboriginal education should persuade the government to change its approach and focus now on property rights.

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

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

It was three years ago that Stephen Harper's Conservative government said it planned to introduce the First Nations Property Ownership Act, which would expand property rights for Canada's Aboriginal people, but we still haven't seen the legislation.

Such an Act would create a voluntary system of transferring title of reserve land from the Crown to an individual First Nation.

The First Nation could then choose to divide up the land and give individual title to band members living on the reserve.

Giving such property rights to Aboriginal people would allow them greater opportunity to improve their economies and give families better living conditions on First Nations.

Right now First Nations are prevented from fully participating in the economy by review processes and legal restrictions because their land is held in trust by the Crown.

The United States provides evidence of a more effective system.

Native American land that has been privatized has a stronger economic base than the land that's still held in trust.

Canada's First Nations have a good track record when it comes to embracing voluntary initiatives, and Ottawa's recent bad experience in trying to reform Aboriginal education should persuade the government to change its approach and focus now on property rights.

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

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

In the ongoing discussion about climate change, we are frequently misled about carbon, carbon dioxide and “carbon pollution.”

Politicians and environmentalists use the terms interchangeably, when talking about the need to reduce our carbon emissions, or 'carbon footprint'.

“Carbon” is the main building block in all fossil fuels including coal, and oil and gas.

Our vehicles and power plants do not emit carbon, but emissions do contain carbon dioxide.

Many blame carbon dioxide for global warming, but quite a few scientists disagree on the extent to which CO2 is responsible for climate change.

They argue that carbon dioxide only plays a minor role in the evolution of the world's climate.

They point out that over the centuries, an increase in CO2 has come after an increase in temperature, not the other way around.

Carbon dioxide is essential to sustain life on earth by enabling plant growth, and it should not be regarded as a pollutant.

Plants absorb CO2 and water and produce oxygen that humans and other animals need to breathe.

Genuine pollutants, like sulfur dioxide which can cause acid rain, are dangerous for our health and for the environment.

Instead of regulating CO2 and worrying needlessly about the phantom problem of 'carbon pollution', governments should focus on reducing pollutants that are real.

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

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

In the ongoing discussion about climate change, we are frequently misled about carbon, carbon dioxide and “carbon pollution.”

Politicians and environmentalists use the terms interchangeably, when talking about the need to reduce our carbon emissions, or 'carbon footprint'.

“Carbon” is the main building block in all fossil fuels including coal, and oil and gas.

Our vehicles and power plants do not emit carbon, but emissions do contain carbon dioxide.

Many blame carbon dioxide for global warming, but quite a few scientists disagree on the extent to which CO2 is responsible for climate change.

They argue that carbon dioxide only plays a minor role in the evolution of the world's climate.

They point out that over the centuries, an increase in CO2 has come after an increase in temperature, not the other way around.

Carbon dioxide is essential to sustain life on earth by enabling plant growth, and it should not be regarded as a pollutant.

Plants absorb CO2 and water and produce oxygen that humans and other animals need to breathe.

Genuine pollutants, like sulfur dioxide which can cause acid rain, are dangerous for our health and for the environment.

Instead of regulating CO2 and worrying needlessly about the phantom problem of 'carbon pollution', governments should focus on reducing pollutants that are real.

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

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

The Frontier Centre for Public Policy has released its first Canadian Freedom Index.

It examines the state of personal, fiscal, and regulatory freedoms in all ten Canadian provinces, and it considers how provincial laws and regulations are affecting our daily lives.

Many different factors are measured in each province, including freedom to choose schools, the regulation of alcohol, and property rights.

Alberta took first place overall in the Index, with Saskatchewan and BC coming in second and third, and Manitoba in the middle of the pack in sixth place.

Comparing regions of the country, Western and Central Canada fared well, while the Maritimes and Quebec lagged behind.

The report strongly suggests that provinces which score well when it comes to freedoms are attracting more new residents, while provinces that do poorly on the Index are losing people.

Quebec, with its high income tax, sales tax and excessive red tape, is struggling to keep people – especially those with entrepreneurial skills.

A society that values democracy and personal freedom provides fertile ground for prosperity and innovation.

We should be cautious about trading in personal liberty for temporary security.

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

To find out more about the Freedom Index, please visit www.freedom-index.org or visit our website www.fcpp.org.

The Frontier Centre for Public Policy has released its first Canadian Freedom Index.

It examines the state of personal, fiscal, and regulatory freedoms in all ten Canadian provinces, and it considers how provincial laws and regulations are affecting our daily lives.

Many different factors are measured in each province, including freedom to choose schools, the regulation of alcohol, and property rights.

Alberta took first place overall in the Index, with Saskatchewan and BC coming in second and third, and Manitoba in the middle of the pack in sixth place.

Comparing regions of the country, Western and Central Canada fared well, while the Maritimes and Quebec lagged behind.

The report strongly suggests that provinces which score well when it comes to freedoms are attracting more new residents, while provinces that do poorly on the Index are losing people.

Quebec, with its high income tax, sales tax and excessive red tape, is struggling to keep people – especially those with entrepreneurial skills.

A society that values democracy and personal freedom provides fertile ground for prosperity and innovation.

We should be cautious about trading in personal liberty for temporary security.

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

To find out more about the Freedom Index, please visit www.freedom-index.org or visit our website www.fcpp.org.

Steve Lafleur joins the Charles Adler show to discuss the benefits of establishing a road pricing system in Winnipeg.

Steve Lafleur joins the Charles Adler show to discuss the benefits of establishing a road pricing system in Winnipeg.