An interesting research note from Eric Crampton and at the NZ Initiative on the benefits of devolution on development. It details how Canadian First Nations have transformed their economic fortunes and have built thousands of new homes after gaining powers for planning, zoning, tax, and infrastructure finance. A couple of examples: The Squamish Nation’s 6,000-apartment […]
Devolution and Development
Devolution and Development
18 Oct 2025 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, development economics, economics of regulation, labour economics, law and economics, politics - New Zealand, property rights, urban economics Tags: Canada
Single-Member Electoral Districts Cannot Be Unconstitutional Because They Form Part of the Constitution of Canada
30 Aug 2025 Leave a comment
in constitutional political economy, Public Choice Tags: Canada, constitutional law
Introduction The Ontario Court of Appeal issued a ruling in August 2025 which upheld the constitutionality of single-member electoral districts and lambasted so-called “Fair Vote British Columbia” (which for some reason litigated single-member plurality in Ontario) for having “repackage[ed] failed political arguments as constitutional rights violations.”[1] Justice Huscroft declared unambiguously: “The electoral system is not […]
Single-Member Electoral Districts Cannot Be Unconstitutional Because They Form Part of the Constitution of Canada
Carney Limits Canadians’ Access to News
10 Aug 2025 1 Comment
in economics of regulation, politics Tags: Canada, free speech, media bias, political correctness, regressive left
Another blow against free speech in Canada reported in rightforcanada article Carney defends internet censorship bill, tells Canadians to rely on CBC for news. Excerpts in italics with my bolds and added images. PM Mark Carney dismissed concerns over Bill C-18’s restrictions on sharing news on social media, promoting the Liberal-funded CBC as the primary […]
Carney Limits Canadians’ Access to News
Supreme Screw-up: Climate Fallacies Embraced by Canada’s Highest Court
28 Jul 2025 1 Comment
in economics of climate change, economics of regulation, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming Tags: Canada, carbon tax
Canadian Supreme Court justices rendered an opionion regarding climate change that does not bear up under scrutiny. Former government litigator Jack Wright exposes the errors in his C2C Journal article Supreme Screw-up: How Canada’s Highest Court Got Climate Change Wrong. Excerpts in italics with my bolds and added images. Many Canadians think of the Supreme […]
Supreme Screw-up: Climate Fallacies Embraced by Canada’s Highest Court
Updates on the Reform Act and Fixed-Date Elections
26 May 2025 Leave a comment
in constitutional political economy, politics, Public Choice Tags: Canada, constitutional law
Nova Scotia Shows a Better Way In February, I outlined a government bill tabled by Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, which contained a line to repeal the province’s fixed-date elections law, amongst other things. The omnibus Government Organization and Administration Act received Royal Assent on 26 March 2025, and thus makes Nova Scotia both […]
Updates on the Reform Act and Fixed-Date Elections
“We Study Fascism…We’re Leaving the U.S.”: The NY Times Runs Video of Yale Professors Fleeing to Canada
17 May 2025 Leave a comment
in politics - USA Tags: 2024 presidential election, Canada, constitutional law, free speech, political correctness, regressive left
The New York Times continues to work tirelessly to maintain the narrative that the United States is now a fascist regime. Earlier, the Times demonstrated its view of balanced analysis by running a collection of legal opinions titled “A Road Map to Trump’s Lawless Presidency.” Now, it is featuring three Yale professors fleeing fascism for […]
“We Study Fascism…We’re Leaving the U.S.”: The NY Times Runs Video of Yale Professors Fleeing to Canada
A new chapter in Canadian constitutional history? The King’s return to Parliament
06 May 2025 1 Comment
in economic history, politics Tags: British politics, Canada, constitutional law
Mark Carney announced last week that the King will open the Canadian Parliament in person later this month. It’s unusual for the Canadian Monarch to give the Speech from the Throne. The last time this happened was in 1977 when Queen Elizabeth II opened Parliament during her Silver Jubilee tour. Carney’s invitation is notable because […]
A new chapter in Canadian constitutional history? The King’s return to Parliament
The price of “free” healthcare is the wait
06 May 2025 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, economic history, health economics, politics - USA Tags: Canada, health insurance
While healthcare in Canada’s single-payer health care system is technically free, its real price is measured in wait times. In 2023, the median wait time from a general practitioner’s referral to treatment reached 27.7 weeks—the longest ever and nearly triple the 9.3 weeks reported in 1993. (MuskegonPundit) To see this, think of “free” as…
The price of “free” healthcare is the wait
Not the 51st state – for some time yet
03 May 2025 Leave a comment
in politics - USA Tags: 2024 presidential election, Canada
America’s attention-loving president Donald Trump achieved a remarkable success (by at least one measure) by making himself a salient issue in Canada’s general election held on Monday. It remains to be seen whether that success extends to other areas.
Not the 51st state – for some time yet
More Arthur Meighen Than Brian Mulroney? Pierre Poilievre Might Soon Confront The Reform Act
01 May 2025 Leave a comment
in constitutional political economy, politics, Public Choice Tags: Canada
Election of 2025 On 28 April 2025, we returned yet another minority parliament in the 45th federal general election. Elections Canada’s preliminary results show that this general election brought out the highest voterturnout since 1993, at 68.7% compared to 69.6% thirty-two years ago. The fervent proponents of proportional representation should take heart that the Bloc […]
More Arthur Meighen Than Brian Mulroney? Pierre Poilievre Might Soon Confront The Reform Act
Liberals a minority Government again
30 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
As expected the Liberal Party won the Canadian election, but they have fallen short of a majority. Here’s how each party has gone. Liberals Conservatives In a shock though leader Pierre Poilievre lost his seat NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh lost his seat. The NDP has also lost party status in the Parliament. Bloc Quebécois Greens […]
Liberals a minority Government again
Liberals looking comfortable in Canada
26 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in politics - USA Tags: Canada
The Canadian election is on Monday (Tuesday NZ time) and the Liberal Party has gone from being 20% behind a few months ago and facing a loss of well over 100 seats to leading in most polls and projected to win re-election. They may not get a majority, which needs 172 seats. Current projections have […]
Liberals looking comfortable in Canada
Canada 2025 election called: What to expect
30 Mar 2025 Leave a comment
If the projections pan out, Canada is about to have a quite normal election for its electoral system.
Canada 2025 election called: What to expect
The Upcoming Transfer of Power Between Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney
12 Mar 2025 Leave a comment
in Public Choice Tags: Canada
The Ministry Depends on the Prime Minister The Governor General’s first constitutional duty is to appoint a Prime Minister and ensure the continuity of government. The Governor General usually appoints the leader of the political party which has either an outright majority or a plurality of MPs in the House of Commons, or barring that, […]
The Upcoming Transfer of Power Between Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney
My Former Economics MPhil and DPhil Class-Mate for many hard years, Mark Carney, becomes PM of Canada.
10 Mar 2025 Leave a comment
in business cycles, economic history, economics of bureaucracy, economics of education, history of economic thought, human capital, inflation targeting, labour economics, labour supply, macroeconomics, monetary economics, occupational choice, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice Tags: Canada, monetary policy
Congratulations Mark Carney. When I went to the UK to study economics, we started off doing a degree called Master of Philosophy in…
My Former Economics MPhil and DPhil Class-Mate for many hard years, Mark Carney, becomes PM of Canada.
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
Recent Comments