Researching today’s critical issues

A glance at newspaper headlines shows several key issues that appear frequently. You yourself may be searching for solutions to some of these pressing problems, many of which touch on quality of life issues.

Quality of our Education System
Despite high levels of spending and ongoing public efforts, innovation and excellence in our education is constantly thwarted by central control and lack of competition. This is particularly apparent in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Saskatchewan, where it is difficult for lower-income parents to choose private schools, and where students, on average, routinely underperform students in Alberta, BC and Quebec, provinces that encourage school choice.

The solution is to give individual schools more autonomy and empower parents to choose the school that will best serve their child's educational needs.  Read more about our findings on education

Canadian Tax Rates
Canada’s tax rates, both personal and business, continue to hinder economic progress and competitiveness. This is because they discourage the very productive behaviour we need more of – hard work, savings, investment, risk-taking and entrepreneurship.

If Canada is to truly achieve its potential, then we need to take a coordinated and concerted effort to lower individual and business taxes at all levels of government.  Read more about our findings on taxes

Immigration
In recent decades the system used for the selection of immigrants has been seriously flawed. As a result, the economic performance of recent immigrants has been much weaker than those who came before 1980 or are Canadian-born. Consequently, it is estimated that the arrival of recent immigrants has been extremely costly to Canadian taxpayers.

Large scale immigration is not required to ensure Canada’s continued economic growth or to meet most gaps in the labour force. It also doesn’t provide a solution to the challenges posed by our lower fertility rates and aging population. In short, we need a comprehensive review of immigration policy.  Read more about our findings on immigration

Global Warming
Scientific evidence about the extent and cause of climate change continues to advance, but significant uncertainties remain. In attempting to pressure policy decisions, some activist groups risk exaggerating the certainty and the damages of human impacts on future climate change.

There are risks to both over-committing and under-committing resources to address the potential threats of climate change. Research should continue to evaluate the real costs and benefits of government’s proposed actions. We should also find cost-effective strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, learning to better adapt to impacts that may occur from climate and non-climate related changes would benefit everyone.  Read more about our findings on the environment

Health Care
Canada has one of the world’s most expensive health care systems, with poor access to health care services. Our system doesn’t allow patients to fully benefit from new medical technologies and requires long waits for care. This is because we lack the appropriate incentives for both patients and providers to make the most efficient use of medical goods and services.

Canada should adopt a system like Switzerland’s that offers universal compulsory private health insurance that includes drug coverage. This provides both the benefits of cost-efficiency and the broadest possible access to advanced medicines and medical care.  Read more about our findings on health care

Pharmaceuticals
Canadian public health insurance is not financially sustainable. Patented drugs are too small a percentage of government health spending to be blamed for this. The cost of drugs is only a problem with the inflated price of generic drugs - something caused by government policies.

Canadians wait longer for new medicines than Americans and Europeans because of slow government approvals. The lost health benefits for patients are enormous.

Public drug programs are inferior to private sector drug insurance. Public drug programs refuse or delay coverage for most new drugs that are automatically and immediately covered under private drug insurance plans.  Read more about our findings on pharmaceuticals