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Canada faces a twin crisis in the form of deteriorating long-term deficits coupled with a faltering health care system that continues to cost too much while failing to provide service commensurate with the cost. In this context, MLI released two studies on October 27th by MLI Director of Research Jason Clemens. In Turning Point: Balancing the Budget While Confronting Rising Health Care Costs, Clemens discusses how rising health care spending is contributing to the current deficit and rising debt problems in Canada. In Reforming the Canada Health Transfer, he uses the lessons of welfare reform in the 1990s as a template for health care reform.

In a study released on November 3^rd, author Christopher Ragan argues that the aging and eventual retirement of baby boomers will present Canadian governments with a two-part fiscal challenge. First, both national income growth and tax revenues will slow. Second, public programs such as health care and income support for seniors will become more costly. He said, "Governments can either act proactively and methodically now, or reactively, in crisis later. But make no mistake, governments will be forced to act."

Since the release of the study, it has garnered a great deal of media attention. National Post reporter Derek Abma highlighted the study's recommendations calling for spending restraints, reductions in government, and changing taxes. This article was subsequently reprinted in dailies in most major urban markets.

The Globe and Mail's Jeffrey Simpson wrote that the report "has the virtue of clarity and rigour." The study was also covered in the Huffington Post Canada and Canadian Business, and Professor Ragan appeared on CKNW. Finally, the Financial Post published a Ragan op-ed on the study.

At a time when Muslims constitute one of Canada's fastest growing immigrant communities and Islam the fastest-growing religion, it is important to understand the varied and extremely diverse attitudes of Canadian Muslims when it comes to Canada and its institutions, terrorism, foreign policy, and Sharia Law. In this context, MLI released a study on November 1^st examining the values and opinions of a sample of Canadian Muslims. Authors Christian Leuprecht and Conrad Winn found that Canadian Muslims generally see Canada as welcoming and pluralistic, not racist. However, the study also found that only a small minority of Muslim newcomers unequivocally reject Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Iranian regime.

Since the release of the study, it has sparked a lot of discussion on online forums and websites. Journalist Kris Sims wrote an article summarizing the key findings in the Toronto Sun. The study authors also were interviewed on a number of shows including The Source with Ezra Levant, Charles Adler TV show, Byline with Brian Lilley, Sun News Network's The Roundtable, Radio Canada International's The Link, Dave Rutherford's radio show, and John Gormley Live.  

A comprehensive roadmap to preventing migrant smuggling

Canadian agriculture is among the most protected parts of our economy, in large part because of government-sponsored cartels, referred to as "supply management". These cartels benefit the farmers involved by restricting output and fixing prices well above competitive levels. These monopolies have also stifled productivity in Canadian agriculture and impeded Canada's ability to negotiate trade deals with Europe as well as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

In the fourth installment of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute's Straight Talk series, Professor Ian Lee discusses why Canada has supply management, why we shouldn't, and the fairest way to help consumers and farmers out of supply management. An op-ed based on the study appeared in the Toronto Star. On November 22^nd, Professor Lee appeared in front of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade to discuss supply management and he presented the findings in this Straight Talk issue.

At the Macdonald-Laurier Institute we believe that Canadians should celebrate the very best of Canada's political traditions and history. That's why we're throwing a party! We are pleased to announce our second annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée will be held on Flag Day, February 15, 2012, at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. Join us from 5:30 to 7:30 pm as we celebrate two of our greatest Prime Ministers, Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Wilfrid Laurier, on the day we also celebrate Canada's national flag! The Hon. Stéphane Dion and Hon. Michael Wilson will be among the guests of honour.

Tickets are $100.00 each. You may also purchase a block of 10 tickets for $900.00, or 5 tickets for $450.00 and bring your friends along! If you act now, you can enjoy our early bird discount of 10% off until January 15^th. Click here to register now!

MLI in the Wall Street Journal - yet again! On November 23^rd, the Wall Street Journal quoted MLI's Brian Lee Crowley in an article discussing the fiscal condition of Canada's 10 provinces. He said, "We are in danger of squandering the great [fiscal] advances that Canada achieved precisely because we are not willing to confront the issues raised by the aging of the population, the rising cost of health care, and the unwillingness to reform the system."

On November 1^st, MLI's Jason Clemens wrote an article in the Financial Post calling to reform the CBC. The op-ed also appeared in the National Post, Regina's Leader-Post, Yahoo! News Canada wrote about it, and Jason appeared on News Talk 1010's The Live Drive with John Tory to discuss it.

In his November 5^th Ottawa Citizen column, MLI's Brian Lee Crowley discussed the "things he didn't know about unions". Crowley's points were repeated in Chris Selley's Full Pundit feature in the National Post on November 7^th. Click here for the full article.

On November 6^th, CBC's Rex Murphy invited MLI's Brian Crowley on his show, Cross Country Checkup, to discuss whether Canada needs tougher crime laws.

On November 14^th, MLI's Jason Clemens wrote an article for Freedom Politics (U.S.) on the option of a value-added tax (VAT) for the United States.

If you missed the second History Wars debate on November 11^th, you can now watch it online here courtesy of CPAC. Tune in to see Jack Granatstein and Michael Byers debate whether the Canadian Forces should do peacekeeping only.

In his November 19^th Ottawa Citizen column, MLI's Brian Lee Crowley discussed how Washington's plan to delay their decision on the Keystone XL pipeline will weaken Obama.

On November 21^st, Reuters quoted Crowley in an article on Canada's fiscal reforms of the 1990s and the lessons for the U.S. Also on November 21^st, MLI's Jason Clemens appeared on Charles Adler's radio show to discuss Canada's fiscal reforms of the 1990s.

In his November 28^th column for The Hill Times, MLI's Brian Lee Crowley discussed the vital differences between Canada and the U.S. that help explain why the American political class is still struggling to tackle their fiscal challenges.