MLI Newsletter
Vol. IV, No. 4
|
|
______________
EVENTS
Resolved: The Government of Quebec can decide unilaterally to secede from Canada
Hon. Stephane Dion squares off against former Bloc Quebecois MP and Parti Quebecois MNA, Daniel Turp
*****
May 13, 2013
"Islam vs. Islamism: is the problem religion or ideology?"
On Monday, May 13, MLI co-hosted an evening with Middle East expert Daniel Pipes. The event was co-hosted with the Free Thinking Film Society, The Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow, and The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
Read Brian Lee Crowley's Op/Ed on the issue here - "Anti-Islam prejudice no way to defend freedom"
|
|
______________
MLI Magazine
Inside Policy
Inside Policy is the flagship publication of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute collecting commentary and analysis on a wide range of issues that matter to Canada and Canadians.
In our most recent edition:
"Combating illicit cross-border trade" Laura Dawson & Stefania Bartucci
"Fundamental changes required in Canada's health care system" Janice McKinnon
"Selling Keystone to the Americans" Donald Barry
"Sustainable, ethical management of extratives can help reduce poverty" Julian Fantino & Jorge Humberto Merino Tafur
"Equalization and Reform: Promoting equity and wise stewardship" Robert P. Murphy & Brian Lee Crowley
"Toward a made in Canada eco-energy strategy" Colin Robertson
"Enhanced US competitiveness requires a seamless North American market" Robert Pastor
"Is continental cooperation in energy and environment on the horizon?" Joseph Dukert
"Straight Talk: Immigration and national security" Scott Newark
Plus, four perspectives on Justin Trudeau and his impact on the Liberal Party's fortunes and Canada's political scene:
"Who is this man, really?" James Anderson,
"Justin Trudeau: Media flavour of the moment?" Steven Langdon,
"Justin Diefenbaker: how the Liberals can do to the Tories what the Tories did to them in 1957" John Duffy, and
"How Conservatives can respond to a Liberal Party led by Justin Trudeau" Ken Boessenkool.
Inside Policy is published six times annually, and available at macdonaldlaurier.ca
|
|
______________
VIDEO
WATCH:
Ottawa is subsidizing risky provincial borrowing, and
Canadian taxpayers should not get too complacent about the country's economic outlook, warns a new video by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
| |
|
______________
Stay in the know
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
|
|
|
UPCOMING MLI EVENT in MONTREAL: Bjorn Lomborg,
The Sceptical Environmentalist:
Global Problems, Smart Solutions
| |
Bjorn Lomborg caught the world's attention with his controversial book The Skeptical Environmentalist - focusing on why we should use our scarce resources to actually do some good, instead of simply trying to make ourselves feel better.
He is one of TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world, one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century according to Esquire magazine, and one of the 50 people who could save the planet according to the UK Guardian.
Register for Tickets
MLI is proud to partner with the Bon Mot Book Club in bringing Bjorn Lomborg to Montreal for this exciting and thought-provoking evening.
|
|
MLI releases groundbreaking papers on Aboriginal communities and Canada's natural resource economy
| |
Canada finds itself today in the midst of one of the most important resource development booms in national history. The scale and intensity of resource development in Canada has buoyed the national economy in the midst of global difficulties; equally important, the vast treasure trove of Canadian resources provides solid assurance that the Canadian economy will remain robust well into the future.
These exciting and important opportunities, however, hinge on Canada's ability to establish fair, clear, and durable agreements with First Nations and other Aboriginal communities over natural resource development. In two landmark analyses released simultaneously by MLI, Ken Coates, Canada Research Chair at the University of Saskatchewan, BrianLee Crowley, Managing Director of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and Douglas Bland, professor emeritus at Queen's University, lay out the two stark options Canada now faces; the benefits of getting it right, and the consequences of getting it wrong. These papers set the stage for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute's major new three-year project on Aboriginal Canada and the Natural Resource Economy.
The paper "New Beginnings: How Canada's Natural Resource Wealth Could Re-shape Relations with Aboriginal People" by Ken Coates and Brian Lee Crowley outlines the potentially positive future available if Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians manage to find ways to collaborate on natural resource development, ensuring significant benefits for all parties. Coates draws attention to the experience of Aboriginal engagement with resource development, growing Aboriginal empowerment over the last 40 years, and the constructive, mutually beneficial collaborations that have emerged between Aboriginal groups, governments, and developers informed and shaped by recent court decisions and modern treaties.
Douglas Bland's paper "Canada and the First Nations: Cooperation or Conflict?" argues that Indigenous uprisings in the rest of the world rely less upon "root causes", and more on their feasibility. Combined with real and perceived grievances of historical, political and social wrongs, Canada also possesses the key components present in other uprisings.
What people are saying...
The Winnipeg Free Press wrote this article "First Nations, Canada urged to work on deal: 'positive outcome in is n the cards'" pointing out that despite the potential trouble pointed out by Douglas Bland, Canada actually has several successful agreements that act as a model to ensure that Canada's natural resource economy benefits Aboriginal and non-Aboriginals alike.
John Ivison, (National Post) covered both papers extensively in his column following the release of the papers, highlighting the stark choice Canada faces with Aboriginal communities and Canada's natural resource economy "Grim report warns Canada vulnerable to an aboriginal insurrection"
"Report warns of 'catastrophic' aboriginal uprising" appeared in the Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Windsor Star, Ottawa, Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Canada.com, and GlobalNews.ca. Recognizing the seriousness of MLI's papers, media continued to point out the divergent paths Canada can take while developing its natural resources and the impact of both choices for the country.
Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Shawn Atleo, praised MLI's reports for being a timely and independent voice that "transformative change" is necessary in how Canada's natural resources can strengthen the national economy a a whole and benefit local First Nations communities as well. "Atleo says time for 'bold, transformative change' for First Nations communities", the Hill Times, May 20, 2013.
|
|
Six Myths surrounding the development of Canada's natural resources
| |
A myth-busting Macdonald-Laurier Institute study puts to rest the image of natural resources in Canada as an economic curse that has stifled overall growth by weakening institutions, distorting the economy and depressing investment in physical and human capital.
"Natural resources in Canada do not deserve their poor image as a source of economic growth," writes Philip Cross, MLI research co-ordinator and former chief economic analyst at Statistics Canada.
"On the contrary, over the long term, incomes in Canada have benefited from higher terms of trade driven by commodities."
Mr. Cross said extracting wealth from natural resources has been pivotal to long-term growth in Canada, which has the largest resource sector among the G7 nations.
Mr. Cross said extracting wealth from natural resources has been pivotal to long-term growth in Canada, which has the largest resource sector among the G7 nations.
"However, rather than taking pride in the uniqueness and diversity of their industrial base, some economists have long tended to disparage natural resources as a source of income growth," he said.
Click here to read the full myth-busting paper.
|
MLI Commentary:
Is it time to overhaul the Criminal Code of Canada?
|
Did you know that in Canada it is a criminal offence to sell comic books? To advertise Viagra? To fraudulently practise witchcraft? These are just some of the reasons for thinking Canada's Criminal Code is outdated and in need of "rigorous review," argue two criminologists in a commentary released by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.Dennis Baker and Benjamin Janzen of the University of Guelph say the federal government's last look at the Code systematically underestimated the prevalence of obsolete or outdated offences , and failed to confront valid criticisms levelled against the Code.
The Justice analysis itself acknowledged the importance of continuing to monitor the Criminal Code "to ensure the statute is reflective of Canadian society and that the language is up to date." The MLI authors agreed and went on further to "encourage the Government of Canada to conduct a rigorous review of the Code so that even a modest pruning proves beneficial to Canadians."
The MLI authors point out that the Criminal Code, originally introduced while Sir John A. Macdonald was still prime minister, contains too many provisions that no longer make sense and whose infrequent use demonstrate that they are no longer relevant to life in 21st century Canada. Readers of the paper may be surprised to learn, for example, that provisions in the Code make it a crime to sell comic books, advertise Viagra, fraudulently practise witchcraft, or publish a blasphemous libel.
|
|
MLI Leading Indicator largest increase of the year
| |
Four of the nine components advanced, with the pattern of gains and losses the same as the month before, said Philip Cross, Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI) Research Co-ordinator and former chief economic analyst at Statistics Canada.
"As economic growth surpassed expectations in the first quarter, this suggests that the economy has shrugged off the turbulence related to sequestration in the US and Cyprus in the EU, and is poised to strengthen in the second half of the year," he said.
Mr. Cross said the US leading indicator consistently has grown slightly faster than the Canadian leading indicator to date this year, advancing 0.4% in April.
"The US economy has received a boost from the clear signs of a turnaround in its housing sector, which has made lumber Canada's fastest growing export," he said.
Commodity prices also received a boost from higher lumber prices, along with natural gas, another long-suffering industry. The 1.4% increase in commodity prices was the fastest of any component. (More...)
MLI's Leading Economic Indicator in the news:
March's LEI cited in this Reuters article which was also carried by CNBC "WRAPUP 3-Growth rebound may herald Canada's economic spring"
|
Great Canadian Debates - Resolved: "The Government of Quebec can decide unilaterally to secede from Canada"
| |
 The Macdonald-Laurier Institute is excited to host the next GCD "Resolved: The government of Quebec can decide unilaterally to secede from Canada"
At the heart of debates over Quebec's future and its status within Confederation lies a hotly contested question: who will decide?
Following the last referendum on Quebec sovereignty the federal government referred this very question to the Supreme Court of Canada. Following the Supreme Court's decision, Ottawa enacted the Clarity Act, which lays down ground rules regarding both future referenda and any negotiations on sovereignty that might ensue. For its part, Quebec's national Assembly passed a law stating categorically that the province's political future is a decision that belongs entirely to Quebeckers.
In this Special Great Canadian Debate, the Hon. Stéphane Dion, former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Cabinet Minister, and framer of Canada's Clarity Act will trade rhetorical blows with Daniel Turp; former Member of Parliament for the Bloc Quebecois and former Member of the National Assembly with the Parti Quebecois over the question of who is entitled to participate in decisions over Quebec's standing in Confederation. The moderator for this debate will be Jack Granatstein.
Click here for tickets
We would like to thank our sponsors,the Ottawa Citizen,Certified General Accountants, and iPolitics. Coverage provided by CPAC, the Great Waterway of Southeastern Ontario, the City of Brockville, the St. Lawrence Alliance, the Free Thinking Film Society,and the Dorchester Review.
|
Great Canadian Debates Recap. "Wealth has too much power in Canada"
| |
 The Macdonald-Laurier Institute was proud to host the fourth of its signature Great Canadian Debates series - pitting Armine Yalnizyan, senior economist with the Centre for Policy Alternatives, against William Watson, economic professor at McGill University to determine if Canada's wealthy have too much power, or are just a convenient strawman for political purposes.
The event was a big success, and audience participation in the Q&A after the debate definitely kept our debaters on their toes to deliver fulsome answers to thoughtful questions.
READ the commentaries by our two debaters Armine Yalnizyan and William Watson here.
In case you missed it, go to cpac.ca to see it from beginning to end and then be sure to register for tickets for our next Great Canadian Debate - "The Government of Quebec can decide unilaterally to secede from Canada". The Hon. Stephane Dion, former leader of the Liberal Party and Cabinet minister who framed the Clarity Act will square off against Daniel Turp, former MP with the Bloc Quebecois and MNA with the Parti Quebecois to answer the question of who decides the fate of Confederation?
We would like to thank our sponsors,the Ottawa Citizen,Certified General Accountants, and iPolitics. Coverage provided by CPAC, the Great Waterway of Southeastern Ontario, the City of Brockville, the St. Lawrence Alliance, the Free Thinking Film Society,and the Dorchester Review.
|
|
More news from MLI
| |
Here are a few highlights:
In a recent column in Postmedia outlets nationally, MLI's Brian Lee Crowley writes that one of the surest ways to ensure world peace and increase Canada's place in it is maintain robust defence capabilities. Peace through strength is an axiom as true today as it was for ancient Rome.
In another provocative and thoughtful column carried in the Vancouver Sun, Kingston Whig Standard, Ottawa Citizen, Calgary Herald, and more, Brian Lee Crowley argues that "Anti-Islam prejudice is no way to defend freedom". This piece was the result of the event "Islam vs. Islamism: is the problem religion or ideology" an evening with renown author Daniel Pipes. MLI co-hosted the event with the Free-Thinking Film Society, The Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow, and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
MLI's Alex Wilner writes in Embassy Magazine that the ongoing struggle against terrorism will take a concerted effort by Western nations' police, intelligence, and security associations in conjunction with continued military efforts. Many policy makers believe that the military has limited usefulness in preventing the smaller scale attack carried out by individuals inspired by groups like al Qaeda, but it is because military force has severely disrupted the networks necessary to plan and execute the more spectacular attacks associated with 9/11 argues Wilner.
MLI's Philip Cross cuts to the heart of debate about innovation in Canada's economy in his column for the Financial Post "Copy-cat innovation". In it he writes that there is much confusion about what innovation actually means, and why this can lead to bad policy decisions from government. Rather than simply copy the R&D policies of other countries with different economic realities than Canada, we should develop policies that make sense here.
In case you missed it, Philip Cross also penned this outstanding piece "Unemployment dangerously low" in the Financial Post that argues the growing threat to Canada' economic growth is not unemployment as we traditionally know it, but that too many jobs are unfilled creating a drag on growth.
Former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney received a framed inforgraphic from the MLI video "How to balance the budget in one easy lesson" depicting Canada's deficit fight in the 1990's and beyond, which he says will soon hang on his office wall as Governor of the Bank of England
.
MLI's Christian Leuprecht was featured in CBC's report "Gun seizures up but fears of a porous border remain" warning that Canada's border is too porous allowing guns and other illicit trade to flourish.
|
|
|
|
|
