Frontier Centre

The idea of “buying local” is becoming increasingly popular among Canadians.

Purchasing food from a local farmer or a product from a small business is often more gratifying than lining up at a large franchise.

Sometimes local products are preferred to imports, because the products are fresher or simply better.

But the push to “buy local” can become a problem when people rail against large chains and foreign products.

Pushback against products because they aren’t local can have negative unintended consequences.

Relying too heavily on locally-grown food creates a dilemma when crops fail because of bad weather, resulting in shortages and higher prices.

Global trade which allows food to move all over the world gives us greater variety for our diet, as well as food security.

Large scale farming can generally produce more food per acre, while using less energy than small scale local farming.

Large retailers are able to sell some goods at a lower price, saving consumers a lot of money in the long run.

Some people cannot afford to pay twice as much for their groceries and other necessities.

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

And please visit our website www.fcpp.org.

The idea of “buying local” is becoming increasingly popular among Canadians.

Purchasing food from a local farmer or a product from a small business is often more gratifying than lining up at a large franchise.

Sometimes local products are preferred to imports, because the products are fresher or simply better.

But the push to “buy local” can become a problem when people rail against large chains and foreign products.

Pushback against products because they aren’t local can have negative unintended consequences.

Relying too heavily on locally-grown food creates a dilemma when crops fail because of bad weather, resulting in shortages and higher prices.

Global trade which allows food to move all over the world gives us greater variety for our diet, as well as food security.

Large scale farming can generally produce more food per acre, while using less energy than small scale local farming.

Large retailers are able to sell some goods at a lower price, saving consumers a lot of money in the long run.

Some people cannot afford to pay twice as much for their groceries and other necessities.

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

And please visit our website www.fcpp.org.

David Vardy gives his speech at a Frontier Centre for Public Policy Luncheon entitled: A Tale of Two Debacles: Muskrat Falls and Manitoba Hydro's Preferred Development Plan.

David Vardy gives his speech at a Frontier Centre for Public Policy Luncheon entitled: A Tale of Two Debacles: Muskrat Falls and Manitoba Hydro's Preferred Development Plan.

David Vardy is interviewed by Geoff Currier on CJOB regarding his speech given for the Frontier Centre entitled: A Tale of Two Debacles: Muskrat Falls and Manitoba Hydro's Preferred Development Plan

David Vardy is interviewed by Geoff Currier on CJOB regarding his speech given for the Frontier Centre entitled: A Tale of Two Debacles: Muskrat Falls and Manitoba Hydro's Preferred Development Plan

Custom band elections on First Nations are difficult for many Canadians to understand.

Recently, the Garden Hill First Nation in Manitoba adopted new election rules that prevent anyone under the age of 50 from running for chief, and anyone under the age of 40 from running for band councillor.

Also, anyone in a common law relationship is not allowed to run for office.

It means that 80% of the Garden Hill community is not eligible to run for chief or councillor.

As a custom band, Garden Hill is not covered by the Indian Act rules on elections and has been allowed to develop its own election code.

However, they are still obliged to comply with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Canada's constitution.

The Charter does not allow discrimination based on age or marital status.

But Ottawa's hands are tied, and any band member who feels that their charter rights have been violated must take their case to court.

Custom elections offer a degree of self-government, but they can also generate problems.

A possible solution might be to establish an independent First Nations electoral commission to develop custom codes that satisfy the Charter.

If election codes complied with the Charter, more Canadians would accept custom band elections because they would be more fair.

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

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

Custom band elections on First Nations are difficult for many Canadians to understand.

Recently, the Garden Hill First Nation in Manitoba adopted new election rules that prevent anyone under the age of 50 from running for chief, and anyone under the age of 40 from running for band councillor.

Also, anyone in a common law relationship is not allowed to run for office.

It means that 80% of the Garden Hill community is not eligible to run for chief or councillor.

As a custom band, Garden Hill is not covered by the Indian Act rules on elections and has been allowed to develop its own election code.

However, they are still obliged to comply with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Canada's constitution.

The Charter does not allow discrimination based on age or marital status.

But Ottawa's hands are tied, and any band member who feels that their charter rights have been violated must take their case to court.

Custom elections offer a degree of self-government, but they can also generate problems.

A possible solution might be to establish an independent First Nations electoral commission to develop custom codes that satisfy the Charter.

If election codes complied with the Charter, more Canadians would accept custom band elections because they would be more fair.

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

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

Saskatchewan government announced it was was scrapping standardized testing. Michael Zwaagstra is a public high school teacher and a Senior researcher with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.

Saskatchewan government announced it was was scrapping standardized testing. Michael Zwaagstra is a public high school teacher and a Senior researcher with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.