Colin Busby: Building a stronger military reserve: National Post Op-Ed
Published in the National Post on December 2nd, 2014
By: Colin Busby
Colin Busby is a senior policy analyst at the C.D. Howe Institute.
Canadians’ wellbeing improved last week when the federal government took steps to solidify the future for Canada’s citizen soldiers. Reservists play key roles in meeting Canada’s growing international and domestic security needs, and Ottawa, last Tuesday, announced a low-cost plan to financially support employers of reservists when he or she volunteers for full-time military duty.
Canadian reservists usually participate full-time in the civilian workforce and train part-time as members of the reserve force. But every so often, be it after a natural disaster or during a major…
Another (macro) defence of Economics 101: Globe and Mail Op-Ed
Published in the Globe and Mail on December 2nd, 2014
By: Christopher Ragan
Christopher Ragan is an associate professor of economics at McGill University and a research fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute.
Six weeks ago, I wrote a column defending economists against the allegation that we fill our students’ minds with useless theories. I argued that the content of Economics 101 is invaluable to organizing their thinking and helping them sort through the many economic phenomena they encounter, either in their daily lives or in the news. But my arguments were all about “micro” economics; today I focus on “macro” economics.
Microeconomics is the study of individual markets and the players in those markets.…
What to Do about Canada’s Declining Math Scores
The declining performance of Canadian students on international math assessments should worry Canadians and their provincial governments. Strong mathematics knowledge is required for success in the workforce, and early achievement in math is one of the best predictors of later academic success and future career options. Between 2003 and 2012, all but two Canadian provinces […] Expanding School Choice through Open Enrolment: Lessons from British Columbia
Greater school choice has improved the reading and numeracy scores of grade 4 students in some areas of British Columbia, according to a new C.D. Howe Institute report. In “Expanding School Choice through Open Enrolment: Lessons from British Columbia,” authors Jane Friesen, Benjamin Cerf Harris and Simon Woodcock provide fresh insights to policymakers in other […] Evaluating Student Performance in Pathways to Education
Pathways to Education, an educational support program for disadvantaged students, had a significant effect on high-school graduation and postsecondary enrolment, finds a report released today by the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Evaluating Student Performance in Pathways to Education,” authors Philip Oreopoulos, Robert S. Brown, and Adam Lavecchia, find encouraging results, so far, for Pathways sites […] What Now? Addressing the Burden of Canada’s Slow-Growth Recovery
The Canadian economy continues to face serious macroeconomic challenges, the most important of which is addressing the burden of a slow-growth recovery, according to a report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “What Now? Addressing the Burden of Canada’s Slow-Growth Recovery”, McGill University economist Christopher Ragan calls for Canadian policy makers to accept the likelihood […] User Discretion Advised: Fiscal Consolidation and the Recovery
Ontario should not delay fiscal consolidation, while Ottawa should take a more gradual approach than planned, according to a report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “User Discretion Advised: Fiscal Consolidation and the Recovery,” author William Scarth calls on the Ontario provincial government to address its long-term sustainability challenges before it embarks on any major […] What Policies Work? Addressing the Concerns Raised by Canada’s PISA Results
Canadian educators can draw key lessons on how to improve student performance from the most recent Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) report, according to a new C.D. Howe Institute publication. In “What Policies Work? Addressing the Concerns Raised by Canada’s PISA Results,” author John Richards addresses six widely discussed education policies that may reverse […] Warning Signs for Canadian Educators: The Bad News in Canada’s PISA Results
Canadian provinces should be concerned about slipping high-school students’ scores – in reading, science and mathematics – as assessed by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), according a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Warning Signs for Canadian Educators: The Bad News in Canada’s PISA Results,” author John Richards addresses some concerning […] Do student outcomes depend on good teachers? Globe and Mail Op-Ed
Published in the Globe and Mail on May 13th, 2014
By David Johnson
David Johnson is Professor of Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University and Education Policy Scholar at the C.D. Howe Institute.
The proposed recertification of teachers in Alberta announced earlier this month is controversial. Would data from assessments of student learning be useful in measuring teacher effectiveness?
In Alberta there are province-wide assessments of individual student learning in Grade 3, 6 and 9. There are two obvious problems in using these assessments to measure teacher quality.
First, student performance when assessed in Grade 3 and…
Don’t Forget the Kids: How Immigrant Policy Can Help Immigrants’ Children
Current immigration policies overlook the unique challenges faced by immigrant children, resulting in higher dropout rates for those arriving in Canada as teenagers, according to a new C.D. Howe Institute report. In “Don’t Forget the Kids: How Immigrant Policy Can Help Immigrants’ Children,” authors Colin Busby and Miles Corak assert that various government policies do […] Why the First Nations Education Act deserves broad Parliamentary support: Globe and Mail Op-Ed
Published in the Globe and Mail on May 1, 2014
By John Richards
John Richards teaches in the Simon Fraser University public policy program. He is also a fellow-in-residence at the C.D. Howe Institute, and the author of the institute report: “Are We Making Progress? New Evidence on Aboriginal Education Outcomes in Provincial and Reserve Schools”.
In 2011 Chuck Strahl, at the time Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, and Shawn Atleo, then as now head of the Assembly of First Nations, agreed to launch a major initiative to improve reserve schools.
The reasons to do so are obvious. For decades, on-reserve high school completion has remained…