A good and responsive regulatory system must consider the needs of all of the stakeholders. In the case of energy regulation in Alberta, there are a host of stakeholders involved, including the private sector companies wishing to undertake energy development, landowners, neighbours, First Nations, special interest groups, governments at various levels (including those acting on […]
Although no one would ever mistake me for a Liberal, I’m in favour of Justin Trudeau’s proposal to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana. I follow the lead of distinguished libertarian-conservative thinkers such as Milton Friedman and Michael Walker, who have argued that the state has no business penalizing people for their preference in […]
In an earlier SPP post, I paid tribute to Walter Berns and Harry Jaffa on the occasion of their almost simultaneous passing in January 2015. Subsequently, I was privileged to participate in a roundtable on the work and legacy of Walter Berns organized by the Claremont Institute for the annual meeting of the American Political […]
I've been working closely for a couple of years now on the regulation of Canadian financial institutions and financial markets. However, I learned a few things recently when I attended a panel on payday lending. A payday loan in Alberta is a short-term loan of up to two months to a maximum amount of $1500. […]
The new government in Alberta has made climate change a priority issue. The appointment of Andrew Leach and an as yet unnamed panel signals an intent to implement a significant climate change policy. Carbon pricing will be a key tool in any such policy. A few facts are in order (numbers are from the […]
Historically, the statutes (e.g. the Bank Act and the Insurance Companies Act) included few specific duties for directors, and those that were prescribed were mostly routine. Boards tended to be old boys clubs, stacked with cronies of the controlling shareholder and the CEO. Friends of insiders were rewarded with a sinecure board position and an […]
The Alberta and PEI elections of 2015 were the first early elections called by Canadian majority governments in contravention of fixed-date legislation. Since British Columbia enacted such legislation in 2001, all Canadian jurisdictions except Nova Scotia, Nunavut and Yukon have followed suit. None of the Canadian laws are legally binding, and they were never expected […]
The NDP’s election platform stated that it will “establish a Resource Owners’ Rights Commission to report to the new Premier and the Legislature within six months on measures to promote greater processing of Alberta’s energy resources, and to ensure a full and fair return to the people of Alberta for their energy resources.” It also […]
With the Stampede around the corner, Calgarians and visitors from around are buckling up for the ‘Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’. Stampede festivities will abound, and with them, alcohol consumption and public intoxication. It may be surprising to some of us to know that public intoxication is a criminal offence in Canada. Historically, Western societies […]