Frontier Centre

Alison Redford is stepping down, an interview with Robert Murray, Frontier Centre for Public Policy, on how she has been losing the support of her caucus and was unable to maintain support.

Alison Redford is stepping down, an interview with Robert Murray, Frontier Centre for Public Policy, on how she has been losing the support of her caucus and was unable to maintain support.

More and more Canadians are being victimized by laws that allow authorities to seize assets that are suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

In several provinces, property and other assets can be seized even without formal charges being laid, let alone a conviction in the case.

Authorities only have to prove, based on a balance of probabilities, that property was acquired by illegal means or was used to help commit a crime.

Such laws were originally created to help fight organized crime, but many now argue that the net is far too wide.

An example is the story of Chad Squire who was stopped by the RCMP near Brooks Alberta in 2010.

Police seized $27,000 from him, claiming that it must have been acquired illegally.

In fact it was money he received from selling his house, but it took two years and an expensive court fight before it was returned.

74 year old Elizabeth Thomson of Calgary, watched as Alberta Justice obtained an order against her condo, accusing her son of using the property for criminal purposes.

Later, it was revealed that the son had used her address on business documents without her knowledge.

Such cases show that all law-abiding Canadians should receive the same protection against search and seizure which is found in the Criminal Code and the Charter of Rights.

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

For more on property rights, visit our website www.fcpp.org.

More and more Canadians are being victimized by laws that allow authorities to seize assets that are suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

In several provinces, property and other assets can be seized even without formal charges being laid, let alone a conviction in the case.

Authorities only have to prove, based on a balance of probabilities, that property was acquired by illegal means or was used to help commit a crime.

Such laws were originally created to help fight organized crime, but many now argue that the net is far too wide.

An example is the story of Chad Squire who was stopped by the RCMP near Brooks Alberta in 2010.

Police seized $27,000 from him, claiming that it must have been acquired illegally.

In fact it was money he received from selling his house, but it took two years and an expensive court fight before it was returned.

74 year old Elizabeth Thomson of Calgary, watched as Alberta Justice obtained an order against her condo, accusing her son of using the property for criminal purposes.

Later, it was revealed that the son had used her address on business documents without her knowledge.

Such cases show that all law-abiding Canadians should receive the same protection against search and seizure which is found in the Criminal Code and the Charter of Rights.

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

For more on property rights, visit our website www.fcpp.org.

The use of textbooks in our schools has been declining in recent years.

Many so-called ‘Progressive’ teachers argue that textbooks are a waste of money because all of their content is available online at the click of a mouse.

These same educators argue that textbooks are full of biased and out-dated information.

But in fact the quality of online information varies widely.

Websites are a hit-and-miss collection of good and bad sources, while a well-written textbook can still organize the most important information in a way that most students can easily understand.

Quality textbooks are subject to extensive review by experts in the field and representatives of various interest groups.

This process weeds out mistakes and misrepresentations.

Also, a quality textbook tends to include the perspective of more than one author.

An excellent example is a history text called Shaping Canada. It provides a chronological overview of Canadian history and contains many excerpts from primary sources.

While textbooks are undoubtedly useful, good teachers should never rely on them exclusively.

Additional resources help to ensure that students learn more than what is simply written in a prescribed text.

It is definitely too soon to consign textbooks to the recycling bin.

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

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

The use of textbooks in our schools has been declining in recent years.

Many so-called ‘Progressive’ teachers argue that textbooks are a waste of money because all of their content is available online at the click of a mouse.

These same educators argue that textbooks are full of biased and out-dated information.

But in fact the quality of online information varies widely.

Websites are a hit-and-miss collection of good and bad sources, while a well-written textbook can still organize the most important information in a way that most students can easily understand.

Quality textbooks are subject to extensive review by experts in the field and representatives of various interest groups.

This process weeds out mistakes and misrepresentations.

Also, a quality textbook tends to include the perspective of more than one author.

An excellent example is a history text called Shaping Canada. It provides a chronological overview of Canadian history and contains many excerpts from primary sources.

While textbooks are undoubtedly useful, good teachers should never rely on them exclusively.

Additional resources help to ensure that students learn more than what is simply written in a prescribed text.

It is definitely too soon to consign textbooks to the recycling bin.

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

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

Part 2 - Michael Zwaagstra, researcher for the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, joins the discussion about a petition to change math education in Alberta in 2014. (CKNW-AM)

Part 2 - Michael Zwaagstra, researcher for the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, joins the discussion about a petition to change math education in Alberta in 2014. (CKNW-AM)

March 16, 2014 - Michael Zwaagstra, researcher for the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, joins the discussion about a petition to change math education in Alberta in 2014. (CKNW-AM)

March 16, 2014 - Michael Zwaagstra, researcher for the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, joins the discussion about a petition to change math education in Alberta in 2014. (CKNW-AM)