Macdonald Laurier Institute

On January 2, 2013, MLI Senior Fellow Ken Coates appeared on CKOM radio’s John Gormely Live in Saskatchewan to share his thoughts on the ‘Idle No More’ movement and suggest potential resolutions to frustrations among aboriginal Canadians. Click here to listen to his interview. MLI Managing Director Brian Lee Crowley also appeared on CKOM’s Afternoon News with guest host David Kirton to discuss the ‘Idle No More’ movement and the way forward for governments and First Nations. The interview follows Crowley and Coates recent op-ed on the subject. Click here to listen to the interview. — No related posts.

On Monday, October 29, 2012, MLI panelist Roger Robinson appeared on the Dave Rutherford radio show to discuss the economic and national security costs and benefits of CNOOC’s offer to buy oil and gas producer Nexen. The interview was a follow-up to Robinson’s participation in MLI’s CNOOC-Nexen panel discussion, National security, national interest, and natural resources: What should Canadians think about CNOOC’s bid for Nexen?, on Wednesday, October 17, 2012. For more information and video from the event, click here. Listen to the Rutherford interview below by clicking the following links: Part 1 – 12 minutes Part 2 – 6 minutes — No related posts.

On CBC’s 75th anniversary, MLI’s Jason Clemens evaluated the CBC within the broader context of government services and programs that are all facing potential budget cuts in the November 1, 2011 issue of the Financial Post. He used six tests developed in 1994 by the Chrétien Liberals to review all government spending. An excerpt below: One of the critical factors of success in the Chrétien spending review was that no area of government was exempt. Given the deficit and the scarcity of taxpayer-provided resources, CBC must be part of the current federal government’s review. But the choice is not whether the federal government can or should support educational efforts about the country’s history, culture and identity. Rather, the question is whether there’s a better way to achieve those goals than spending more than $1.1-billion per year to maintain a national broadcaster. The evidence suggests, quite strongly, that a number of lower-cost options could achieve similar, if not better, results than the CBC. The op-ed also appeared in the National Post, Regina’s Leader-Post, Yahoo! News Canada wrote about it, and Jason appeared on NewsTalk 1010′s The Live Drive with John Tory to discuss it. Listen to the interview below (begins at 16-minute mark).   The Chopping Block: Reform the CBC No one’s watching, except for hockey and jeopardy! By Jason Clemens, Financial Post, November 1, 2011 he nation’s public broadcaster, the CBC, has attracted a lot of attention over the last few weeks. All the discussion is occurring within an Ottawa environment where at least $4-billion (probably more now, given the slowing economy) has to be found over the next three years for the government to balance its budget as planned. Unfortunately, the discourse about the CBC tends to be overly emotive and ideological rather than practical. To objectively evaluate the CBC within the broader context of government services and programs that are all facing potential budget cuts (transfers to individuals and the provinces have been exempted), one should compare the broadcaster’s goals against its performance. But within what framework? In 1994, the Chrétien Liberals introduced a year-long process of review for all government spending, which led to the historic 1995 budget. The spending review was based on six tests: 1) Serve the public interest. 2) Necessity of government involvement. 3) Appropriate role for the federal (or provincial) government. 4) Scope for public-private partnerships. 5) Scope for increased efficiency. 6) Affordability. The CBC’s stated mandate is to “inform, enlighten and entertain” viewers and listeners about our nation, its culture and identity. Although debatable, there is a cogent, reasonable argument to be made that a nation’s government should undertake action to promote its values, culture and history. Such an argument would satisfy the first three tests listed above. The satisfaction of the first three tests, however, doesn’t logically lead to the need for a state broadcaster with all its fixed costs and bricks and mortar. The CBC received $1.16-billion in 2010 from the federal government, representing about two-thirds of its revenues. The practical question is whether alternatives to the status quo could achieve better results in terms of educating and enlightening Canadians about their culture, history and national identity at the same or even lower cost to ­taxpayers. Tests four through six pose a serious, even existential challenge for the CBC in its current form. First, there are now a number of private companies that the CBC directly competes with, including large national organizations, such as CTV and Global, as well as many niche players. This suggests both private-sector alternatives (test #4) and room for efficiency gains (test #5) from changing the status quo at the CBC. In addition to private-sector competitors, there is also the issue of existing alternative mechanisms to [...]

On November 6, 2011, MLI Managing Director Brian Lee Crowley was invited on Rex Murphy’s Cross Country Checkup to discuss whether Canada needs tougher crime laws. Brian was among three other critics who were asked to give their views. Other critics included MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, MP Jack Harris and the Executive Director of the John Howard Society’s Catherine Latimer. Topic: The Conservative government says it’s taking aim at crime with a sweeping new law-and-order bill.  But critics say it misses the mark. Click here to get a description of Sunday’s show. Listen to the interview below:         Related posts:Scott Newark talks crime stats on the radio

August 5, 2011 – Jason Clemens, our new Director of Research and Managing Editor, has made a significant impact in the media during his first week in Ottawa. After the release of his guest column in the Wall Street Journal on August 1st, “Why Canada is beating America“, he has appeared on a number of television and radio shows across Canada and the United States to discuss why Canada today is in a better economic position than America. The column was one of the top five most popular pieces in the paper that day, including both the print and electronic versions. The column was also reprinted in the National Post on August 4, 2011, Lorne Gunter of the National Post wrote a column on it, and it was highlighted in The Hill’s Pundits Blog. To learn more about Jason’s column in the Wall Street Journal, click here. The following is a list of his media appearances including archive information: TELEVISION: Fox Business Network with anchor Connell McShane, August 3, 2011 – Click here to watch the archive. The Daily Brief on Sun News Network, August 3, 2011 – Click here to watch the archive. Charles Adler show on Sun News Network, August 4, 2011 – Click here to learn more about the show. RADIO: WABC’s nationally syndicated radio show in the United States with John Batchelor and co-host Larry Kudlow, August 2, 201 – To listen to the audio archive, click here. The Rutherford Radio Show with guest host Rob Breakenridge, August 2, 2011 - To listen to the audio archive that airs in Alberta, visit the Audio Vault on the QR77 website and select the date August-02-11 and the hour of 9:00am. The interview begins at the 35-minute mark. The audio archive will be available for 14 days after the broadcast. Vince Coakley of WBT in Charlotte, NC, August 2, 2011 – To listen to the audio archive, visit Vince Coakley’s WBT website and click on “Jason Clemens 8-2″ in the Audio section. America’s Radio News Network with host Ernie Brown, August 3, 2011 – To listen to the audio archive that aired nationwide in the US in over 170 stations, click here. The interview begins halfway through the broadcast. The Dana Show with Dana Loesch on KFTK in St. Louis, August 3, 2011 – To listen to the audio archive, visit The Dana Show’s website and click on “8.3 Jason Clemens” in the Audio section.     No related posts.

Former prime minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier speaks to the crowd at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée, Ottawa, February 15, 2011. Related posts:Jean Chrétien speaks at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée Sir John A. Macdonald speaks at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée Peter Milliken speaks at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée

Former prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald speaks to the crowd at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée, Ottawa, February 15, 2011. Related posts:Jean Chrétien speaks at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée Sir Wilfrid Laurier speaks at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée Peter Milliken speaks at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée

Former prime minister Joe Clark speaks to the crowd at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée, Ottawa, February 15, 2011. Related posts:Jean Chrétien speaks at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée Sir John A. Macdonald speaks at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée Sir Wilfrid Laurier speaks at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien speaks to the crowd at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée, Ottawa, February 15, 2011. Related posts:Sir John A. Macdonald speaks at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée Sir Wilfrid Laurier speaks at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée Peter Milliken speaks at the First Annual Macdonald-Laurier Soirée

MLI Managing Director Brian Lee Crowley was on John Gormley Live earlier today, to talk about his latest commentary, Trading in Superstitions. Related posts:Scott Newark on the radio The Canadian Century on Michael Harris Live Paul Chapin on CFRA’s Michael Harris Live

Scott Newark was on 580 CFRA on Thursday to discuss his paper for MLI, Why Canadian crime statistics don’t add up: Not the whole truth. He appeared on CBC’s As It Happens: He was also on the Jerry Agar show on NewsTalk 1010 (starts at the 13 minute mark): And on The Motts (starts just after the 20 minute mark): Related posts:Scott Newark on the radio CBC’s Rex Murphy invited MLI on his show to discuss Canada’s crime laws