The BC Liberals and particularly Premier Christy Clark deserve the praise they're receiving for their surprise electoral victory. After all, the Liberals reversed a double-digit deficit in the polls and ended up securing a majority government. This moment of jubilation for the Liberals and their supporters will be...

With governments collectively racking up almost $46 billion in deficits last year and continuing to struggle with health care costs as the population ages, both governments and citizens are concerned that tax dollars are spent wisely.

One of the major costs for governments is the compensation of public sector...

Milton Friedman was famous for his one-liners. One of his most repeated lines was: "I am in favor of cutting taxes under any circumstances and for any excuse, for any reason, whenever it's possible." Friedman believed government was too large and intrusive, and that by cutting taxes, the...

In 1987, the value of Alberta's Heritage Savings and Trust Fund stood at $12.7 billion. That year, the province faced a massive budget deficit and transfers to the fund from resource revenues were suspended. Such deposits did not resume again until almost two decades later and only lasted two years...

B.C.'s governing Liberals presented a throne speech recently that included an unexpected announcement: the creation of a B.C. Prosperity Fund similar in concept to Alberta's Heritage Fund.

B.C.'s fund is meant to capitalize on the future opportunities from natural gas development. If done...

A policy issue that permeated political debates around the world in 2012 was the idea of raising taxes on high-income earners. In the U.S., it stood front and centre in President Obama's re-election. Several governments in Europe went beyond debate and introduced higher tax rates. Here at home, higher taxes...