Uncategorized Archives - Page 5 of 6

9Aug

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SAIT gender and pay equity

Originally posted 9 August 2017 In this post we examine gender pay equity at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). The government's sunshine legislation allows for more in-depth analysis by job category and salary. Each reporting entity must disclose the total compensation and other compensation for the calendar years by the following June 30th. (more…)

12Jul

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Fault(y) (head)Lines Opinion

In the course of one day last month, three separate news articles appeared in the Edmonton Journal (2) and The Globe and Mail, that had the capacity to mislead or mis-state certain facts about developments in Alberta's energy sector. The headline "Oil sands firms face stringent emissions caps" was published on 16 June. Written by Kelly Cryderman and Jeff Lewis, the use of the words "stringent emissions caps" seemed a stretch headline. (more…)

3Jun

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Another Downgrade

On 26 May, U.S.-based Standard & Poor's dropped the Province of Alberta's credit rating two notches to A+. The Report [Standard-and-Poors-2017-0526-Credit-Analysis-Report] cites continuing budgetary deterioration and growing debt as the causes of the downgrade. (more…)

8Dec

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Economic Outlook 2017

On 8th December 2016, the Economics Society of Northern Alberta hosted their annual 2017 economic Outlook conference. The Association pulled together a list of eminent economists, a political scientist, and keynote speaker the environmentalist Avi Lewis. This post will summarize presentations of some speakers with a subsequent post covering the remaining speakers. The first speaker was Dr. Avery Shenfeld, chief Economist of CIBC who provided a global outlook. Shenfeld observed that the “new normal” growth rate for western industrial economy is now 2% rather than 3%. In Europe he noted that the Greek crisis is not over and that there uncertainty concerning the restructuring of Italian banks. With respect to Brexit he acknowledged that UK- Europe trade is very significant and felt that the...

3Oct

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Opinion/Research, Uncategorized

Boom and Bust Economy- Opinion/Research

Originally posted 3 October 2017 On 14 September, I had the privilege to present an economic overview to members of the Municipal Government Board, municipal assessment review boards and the Surface Rights Board. I was given considerable latitude in addressing the current and future economic conditions that assessment appeal boards faced. Ratepayers (commercial, industrial, residential) have the ability to object to annual assessments and significant sums of money can be at stake over disputes about zoning and the use of property, including buildings and machinery. (more…)

Alberta’s economy from a bank(s)’ perspective

17Sep

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Alberta’s economy from a bank(s)’ perspective

It is difficult for Alberta residents not to be caught up in the "challenges" facing our currently depressed economy. Whether you are a social worker addressing crises stemming from the wildfires or recent unemployment of clients to a young entrepreneur struggling to make inroads into craft brewing, it is difficult to step outside one's immediate "space-time continuum." So this column is going to take the quarterly reports from seven banks' most recent quarterly reports (31 July 2016), summarizing the comments about "Alberta," "energy," and "oil and gas." One of the banks is Canadian Western Bank and it is not surprising that considerably more attention was paid to these terms than by the Big 6 banks. For those readers wishing more detail, the link below extracts the key sections of the...

9Sep

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Labour Relations

Two recent developments on the labour front suggest that the provincial government does not intend to reduce wages in the public sector...yet. Custodians at Edmonton Public Schools received a new three-year contract. The contract grants the 800 workers a 1.75 per cent increase effective 1 September 2016, a two per cent retroactive adjustment for 2015-16 and a $700 lump sum retroactive payment to September 2014. Last week, the provincial government concluded an agreement with the Alberta Medical Association. According to the government's news release, a "needs-based" Physician Resource Plan will place physicians where they are needed. The agreement also is expected to "improve financial sustainability, quality of care, and access." Moreover, a new compensation model will be developed...

4Sep

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Election planning- Opinion

Tom Flanagan's article in The Globe and Mail on 3 September offers one perspective on recent changes to general election financing in Alberta. In his opinion piece, Professor Flanagan analyzes the recent moves by the NDP government to alter the electoral playing field. Dr. Flanagan is no stranger to election planning and understands intimately the details of election finance laws. Flanagan observes that changes proposed in Bill 1, which ended corporate and union donations harmed the Progressive Conservatives in two respects. First, by ending corporate donations, the Tories gave up a huge advantage enjoyed since the time of the Lougheed dynasty. Over their 44 year reign, the PC Association of Alberta collected millions from oil firms, construction and engineering firms, and law firms,...

Alberta Finance Minister releases First Quarter Update

25Aug

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Alberta Finance Minister releases First Quarter Update

On 23 August, Joe Ceci, Treasury Board President and Finance Minister released the provincial government's first scorecard on its April budget. The First Quarter Fiscal Update detailed the financial implications of the Fort McMurray wildfire. However, the net impact of the fire, after estimated federal assistance, is minimal in a financial sense but not a human one. A key concern for provincial fiscal planners will be the pace of rebuilding in the Wood Buffalo area and projected rise in employment in this area. The practice of updating the public on the province's fiscal situation goes back to the mid-1990s when then Treasurer Jim Dinning brought in a batch of fiscal rules to consolidate financial reporting and to mandate firm deadlines for budget updates and financial reports. Reve...

20Jun

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Education, Uncategorized

Education

Originally posted 20 June 2016 As the provincial budget approaches, various education lobby groups are seeking to influence (at the last minute since all key decisions have been made by now - 8 March 2017) the government to support their sector's priorities. The articles below highlight the desire of private schools to head off government veering to de-fund home-schooling and private charter schools and to place the money into public education. Another perennial request is funding for new schools. (more…)