I have an opinion piece in today’s Edmonton Journal about Alberta’s current fiscal situation. Points raised in the blog post include the following: -The Jason Kenney government will almost certainly announce cuts to social spending in the near future. -Yet, more than 80% of Alberta’s kindergarten through Grade 3 classes
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The Progressive Economics Forum: Ten things to know about affordable housing in Alberta
I’ve just written a ‘top 10’ overview blog post about affordable housing in Alberta. Points raised in the blog post include the following: -On a per capita basis, Alberta has far fewer subsidized housing units than the rest of Canada -Some Alberta cities have much more low-cost rental housing (per
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Ten things to know about this year’s Alberta Alternative Budget
The Alberta Alternative Budget (AAB) is an annual exercise whose working group consists of researchers, economists, and members of civil society (full disclosure: I’m the Editor). Our general mandate is to create a progressive vision for Alberta to boost economic growth and reduce income inequality. This year’s document was released
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: MEDIA RELEASE: Alberta should increase social spending; cuts are not the way to go
(June 24, 2019-Calgary) With Alberta’s economy still facing challenges and vulnerabilities, the Alberta government should not be doling out tax cuts or cutting social spending, according to the Alberta Alternative Budget (AAB) released today. “Alberta still has, by far, the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio of any province,” says Nick Falvo, editor
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – The Star’s editorial board rightly criticizes Doug Ford for his propensity to announce massive cuts first, then begrudgingly acknowledge their unconscionable consequences later. Linda White, Elizabeth Dhuey, Michal Perlman and Petr Varmuza note that Ford’s cuts to child care will be particularly
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Homelessness, harm reduction and Housing First
I was recently invited to give a presentation at a two-day event discussing the overdose crisis and First Nations, with a focus on southern Alberta. My presentation focused on homelessness, substance use, harm reduction and Housing First. To read the blog post synthesizing my presentation’s key points, click on this
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – CBC interviews David Wallace-Wells and others about the need for collective action as the only viable response to a climate crisis and the despair it would otherwise produce: “Individual action simply can’t get us to zero [carbon] emissions,” [Wallace-Wells] told Tapestry host
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Karl Nerenberg writes that the ultimate test of the public’s willingness to facilitate a climate breakdown is fast approaching – but that the parties pushing delay and denial may be surprised with the outcome. Brett Chandler challenges the argument that we’re somehow entitled
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. – Sigal Samuel reports on Gary Bloch’s work in prescribing secure incomes to address health problems arising out of poverty. And Murtada Haizer and Stephen Moranis point out the massive social and economic returns on investments in community housing. – D.C. Fraser reports on
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Rick Smith and Ken Neumann write about the importance of developing a Green New Deal that includes participation from (and protection for) the workers affected by an economic transition. – Meanwhile, Aditya Chakrabortty notes that the oil-backed right’s personal attacks on Greta
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Bob Hepburn discusses how Doug Ford has turned a populist campaign into government solely for the benefit of the privileged few. And Paul Krugman rightly notes that it’s the Republicans who stoke resentment in the U.S.’ rust belt who actually express contempt for
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: What Impact will the 2019 Federal Budget have on Canada’s Housing Market?
I’ve written a blog post about what the recent federal budget means for Canada’s housing market. Points I make in the blog post include the following: -The budget contains several initiatives designed to make it easier for households of modest means to become homeowners. -Such initiatives are often framed as
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Matt McGrath reports on David Attenborough’s warning of an impending climate catastrophe. And Moira Fagan and Christine Huang examine the widespread recognition around the world of the importance of averting a climate breakdown. – Jonathan Watts reports on polling showing half of UK
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Andrew Phung highlights how important it is for younger voters to be heard in Alberta’s election. Travis Benson offers plenty of suggestions as to why even people who aren’t always NDP supporters should be happy to re-elect Rachel Notley. And PressProgress rounds
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Low taxes are nothing to brag about
I’ve written an opinion piece that appears in today’s Regina Leader-Post. The piece argues that the Saskatchewan government shouldn’t brag about the province’s low-tax climate (which it recently did). Rather, I argue that taxes serve important functions. The link to the opinion piece is here.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Ryan Meili writes about the need for leaders to listen to bona fide activists regardless of their cause – while drawing an important distinction where events are staged based on hate and/or misinformation. – Jack Knox recognizes that the work of averting
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Ryan Meili points out the unduly limited view of climate policy arising out of political posturing over the federal carbon tax. Ed Finn writes about the importance of ensuring our only home remains inhabitable. Bruce Anderson and David Colleto examine the growing importance
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Michael Mikulewicz and Tahseen Jafry discuss the responsibility wealthy countries bear for increasingly severe weather events – as well as the best way to start bearing an appropriate share of the resulting human and economic costs: In all this inequality, the world’s
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Ed Finn writes that the Trudeau PMO’s interference on behalf of SNC-Lavalin confirms Canada’s plutocratic rule under Libs and Cons alike. And Carole Cadwalladr and Duncan Campbell report on Facebook’s use of promised jobs to bribe its way out of the regulations
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Crawford Kilian reviews Richard Johnston’s Canadian Party System: An Analytic History, and in the process points out how a sensible federal political system would include the NDP as one of the primary options to form government. And Jamie Maxwell discusses how Jagmeet Singh’s
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