>Date: Tue, 02 Nov 1999 14:46:49 -0400 >From: Bruce Campbell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Organization: CCPA >X-Accept-Language: en >MIME-Version: 1.0 >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: CCPA Update > >November 2, 1999 > >NEW FROM THE CANADIAN CENTRE FOR POLICY ALTERNATIVES > >Dear Members and Friends of the CCPA: > >From: Bruce Campbell, Executive Director > >Hello! Here is our regular update of new publications from the Canadian >Centre for Policy Alternatives. You can order our publications directly >from the our web site. A lot of our material can be freely downloaded. >So check us out at: www.policyalternatives.ca > >Feel free to contact me if you have any comments about our work, or you >want to become a member. [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >ALTERNATIVE FEDERAL BUDGET 2000 > > AFB 2000, co-hosted by the Centre and CHO!CES, released a report on >November 1, 1999 entitled: Alternative Fiscal and Economic Update: >Policy Options for the Federal Government. as a counterpoint to Paul >Martin’s economic statement released today. > >The main finding of the report is that the federal government has lots >of fiscal room for public reinvestment without increasing tax levels and >without threatening its balanced budget position. Under reasonable >economic assumptions, the federal government will generate a final >fiscal surplus of over $6 billion in the current (1999-2000) fiscal >year, and almost $12 billion in the fiscal year covered by Paul Martin’s >upcoming budget (2000-2001). Over the next five budget years (fiscal >2000-01 through fiscal 2004-05), federal surpluses (in the absence of >major new program or tax changes) will cumulate to a whopping $117 >billion. These large surpluses arise thanks to the positive impact of >continued economic growth on federal tax revenues, and the ongoing >decline of debt service payments as a share of GDP (the result both of a >falling debt burden and lower effective interest rates). >This report was produced by Dr. Jim Stanford, chair of the Macro and >Fiscal Policy Committee of AFB 2000. The full report, Alternative >Fiscal and Economic Update: Policy Options for the Federal Government, >can be downloaded from the CCPA web site at; <www.policyalternatives.ca> > >------------------------- > >BEHIND THE NUMBERS: "Who Deserves a Break Today: What To do With The >Federal Surplus, > >By David Robinson; Released October 28, 1999, > >Robinson makes a convincing case that Canadians have paid the price of >deficit elimination mainly in reduced programs and transfers rather than >lower taxes. Moreover the bottom 20% of families have experience by far >the largest increase in their income taxes between 1993-97 (40.5%) >compare to the top 10% whose taxes rose a mere 4.7%. Tax relief >measures should be targeted at low and middle income households. David >Robinson is Director of Public Policy at the CAUT and a research >associate of the CCPA > >"Who Deserves a Break Today: What To do With The Federal Surplus" can be >downloaded from the CCPA web site at; <www.policyalternatives.ca> > > > >----------------------- > >YNN AND THE COMMERCIAL CARPET BOMBING OF THE CLASSROOM. > >By Erica Shaker, CCPA Education Researcher > >Released October 26, 1999 > >This latest report from the CCPA provides a detailed explanation of >private broadcaster Youth News Network (YNN), its evolution, the plans >of its US parent corporation, the implications of commercial classroom >involvement, and the means by which commercial ventures of this sort run >counter to the fundamental principles of public education. Youth News >Network (YNN) which consists of 10 minutes of "current events" and 2.5 >minutes of commercials, will begin airing this fall in a handful of >Canadian schools, despite stiff resistance from students, parents, >teachers, community groups, and the majority of provincial governments. >YNN is based on the enormously profitable Channel One, currently in 40 >percent of American schools and watched by 8.1 million students daily. >At a time when schools are increasingly vulnerable due to chronic >under-funding, the public needs to be armed with the tools to keep our >classrooms free of corporate manipulation so they can >continue to provide quality education to all Canadians. > >Copies of the report are available on the CCPA web site: >http://www.policyalternatives.ca > > >MISSING PIECES: AN ALTERNATIVE GUIDE TO CANADIAN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION > >By Denise Doherty-Delorme and Erika Shaker (eds.) >(CCPA publishing) >Coming November 18, 1999 > >The narrow criteria traditionally used to rank Canada’s universities and >colleges neglect or underestimate the impact of government under-funding >and corporate intrusion, and fail to assess the quality and >accessibility of post-secondary education from the standpoint of students. >MISSING PIECES focuses on the effects of education policy on a >province-by-province basis ranking each provincial government >performance. The editors, along with other education researchers, >critically examine the post-secondary education system and offer >workable solutions to its problems. >Denise Doherty Delorme is a researcher with the Canadian Federation of >Students and a CCPA research associate. Erika Shaker is the CCPA’s >education researcher > >Copies of Missing Pieces are available from the CCPA and selected >bookstores for $15.00. Bulk orders are available at a rate of $8.00 per >copy plus shipping. > > >---------------------------- > >THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION: A CITIZEN'S GUIDE > >by Steven Shrybman (CCPA/Lorimer): >Released October 18, 1999 > > >The World Trade Organization is a global institution of staggering >power. With a membership of 135 countries and a mandate to administer >and enforce international trade agreements worldwide, it is not an >exaggeration to say that this organization constitutes a form of world >government. The WTO is using it is extraordinary powers to force >governments to modify public policies most often to conform to corporate >interests. Steven Shrybman offers an independent view of the WTO and how >it is using its powers in areas ranging from agriculture and environment >to labour and culture. > >World leaders meet in Seattle later this year to launch the so-called >millennium round of WTO negotiations. WTO: A Citizen’s Guide is a >timely and valuable resource for all who want to understand its profound >impacts on our lives. > >Copies of The World Trade Organization: A Citizen’s Guide can be >obtained from the CCPA for $19.95 each (price includes shipping within >North America, handling and GST #124146473RT). (Discounts available for >bulk orders) > > >------------------------ > >TEN TAX MYTHS > > by Murray Dobbin > >Released October 4, 1999 >The high-powered campaign for tax cuts in Canada, mounted by big >business and relentlessly promoted by right-wing politicians, >think-tanks and the commercial media, is based on misleading data, >specious arguments, and outright falsehoods. That is the central finding >of best-selling author and activist Murray Dobbin, His report is >designed to expose and refute the prevalent tax myths and to provide the >facts about our tax system that its attackers conveniently ignore. "Ten >Tax Myths" will equip citizens with the information and analysis needed >to debunk these myths. > >Ten Tax Myths has been met by a predictably hostile response from the >tax cut lobby. For example Michael Walker of the Fraser Institute says: >"there is a superficial appeal to the analysis that does not stand up to >careful scrutiny." > >Ten Tax Myths can be downloaded for free from the CCPA web site at >http://www.policyalternatives.ca > >Hard copies are available for $10.00 each. (bulk orders are available >for $5.00 each plus shipping) > >Murray Dobbin is available to speak at conventions and conferences. > > > >A PRIMER ON CANADIAN PRODUCTIVITY: (Everything You Wanted to Know >about Productivity But Were afraid to Ask) > >by Marc Lee, Research Economist, CCPA BC Office >October 1999, (CCPA publishing) > >The state of Canada’s productivity has been the subject of much >commentary and debate. Despite widespread coverage in the media, the >concept of productivity and how to measure it meaningfully remains >confused. This primer is intended to shed light on the concept and key >issues posed by the productivity debate. > >Copies of A PRIMER ON CANADIAN PRODUCTIVITY can be purchased from the >CCPA at $6.00. bulk orders are available at a rate of $4.00 per copy >plus shipping. It will be available shortly on our web site: < >www.policyalternatives.ca > > > > >-- >Bruce Campbell >Executive Director >Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives >Suite 410, 75 Albert Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7 >Tel: 613-563-1341 Fax: 613-233-1458 >E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >http://www.policyalternatives.ca >
