Ch. 8- Human Resources department too big: report

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2000/06/01/hrdc_000601.html

This article explains how our Liberal dominated government, has said that the Human Resources department (the largest federal department) should be broken up. Commons committee has said that the department has become way to big and should be broken down to smalled focused departments. Over the past months Human Resources Minister, Jane Stewart has had to face consequences due to billions of dollars given to the Human Resources Development Canada and they way the money was handled. It was reported that it was found the HRDC was too fixisated on job creation.

This article has to do with the Human Resources Policies in chapter 8. The department of Human Resources Development Canada is in charge of the policies which are used as stabilization policies aimed to lessen the amount of structural unemployment in the economy. HRDC is prepared to take several measures to reduce the amount of enemployment in Canada.

Ch. 7-Bank of Canada pumps more into financial system

http://ctv2.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080429.wbankofcanada0429/business/Business/businessBN/ctv-business

The article explains that the Bank of Canada, in order to ease the credit conditions in the country's financial system has put in another 2 billion dollars into the system. The roll over of money was not expected, but it does reflect the bank's view on how credit would be too difficult for Canada. This has been the fourth cash deposit since December, bringing the total to 12 billion dollars. The banks has stated that the injection of money was “continuing provision of liquidity in support of the efficient functioning of financial markets.”

This article relates to chapter 7 due to its relationship with the Bank of Canada. In chapter 7 the Bank of Canada was a main topic of discussion due to the Bank's impact in our economy. The Bank of Canada is like the head of all banks in Canada, it is essentially the central bank in Canada. The Bank of Canada is in charge of issuing bank notes in Canada, therefore the circulation of money can be impacted by any changes to do with the Bank of Canada. With more money the bank the cashflow of money will not likely decrease.

Ch. 5- Number of Canadians on EI rises in December

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080226/statscan_ei_080226/20080226/

This article discusses the distinct increase of Canadians receiving EI benefits. It has been recorded that in December 458,900 Canadians received EI benefits. That was 10,060 more Canadians than in the previous month of November and the first increase in 5 months. Statistics Canada has reported that in 8 different provinces the number of residents receiving EI benefits has increased more than 2 percent in provinces such as Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Quebec. However compared to December 2006 the number of residents receiving EI benefits fell 5%. In total our government spent $705 million.

This article relates to chapter 5 because in the beginning of the chapter we learned about EI benefits and how the benefits were important part of the economy. The number of people employed and unemployed would contribute to the labour force, which was also a topic we covered in chapter 5. However, even though EI benefits are suppose to be a positive aspect in the economy, there are some negative aspects to the employment insurance as well.

By observing the increase in December it could possibly become an alarming issue that such a massive increase all of a sudden in the economy could be a sign that something is wrong. With so many people unemploymed unvoluntarily, does that mean that some aspect of our economy is heading towards a recession? Or is it that a resource is not being used well enough to sustain the company employees? I agree that EI benefits are beneficial to the economy and to workers who are trying to make a living. However, with EI benefits comes with people who could potentially try to cheat and exploit the government. This would be the disadvantage of the EI benefits, because it is hard to track a person's progress. They do have to file a report between periods of time, but there is no way of tracking down each one to verify the information. But EI benefits do provide a balance and sort of like a catching net, for workers who unfortunately had to unvoluntarily leave their job. The EI benefits acts as the government's way of helping a worker out and lendng a hand, so that the worker may get a new job and get back on their feet.

Ch.4-Feds won't follow B.C. lead on carbon tax: Baird

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080220/carbon_tax_080220/20080220?hub=TopStories

The article I have chosen was taken from the CTV news website. In this article the ferderal government has expressed their thoughts about the new carbon tax that has been imposed on British Columbia to fight the climate change. Environmental Minister John Baird has said that the federal government would prefer environmental regulations than the new carbon tax. Since Finance Minister Carole Taylor tabled her provincial budget on Tuesday, British Columbia has become the first juridiction in North America to have the carbon tax. In this matter, the federal government has chosen not to follow BC's lead. Minister Baird has said, and I quote, "We're not looking at coming forward with one (carbon tax,'') he told The Canadian Press. "We've taken different approaches.'' Baird does note that Ottawa and British Columbia are not at odds with the issue, but it is just that each side will approach the issue differently. He points out that what may work in British Columbia may not work in Alberta. He explains how different provinces are coming up with different approaches to the issue. Baird does point out that the federal government has been working with BC on some environmental issues such as the the tidal power project near Victoria. He says that there are dozens of things with respect to fighting climate change, and that the biggest initiative for the federal government right now is to regulate the big polluters. However, Minister Taylor says that BC will not be waiting for a consensus when it comes to fighting global warming.

In my opinion I believe that BC has shown initiative in regards to fighting global warming. However, I also believe that in regions up in northern BC, it is harder for them to not use their cars. In many isolated areas it is one of the few means of getting around. The carbon tax has allowed BC to be one of the first provinces to initiate the first step to making a change to our future. I understand why the federal government would not want to take this approach to battling climate change at the moment. Taxes have always been an issue in our society and the amount which the public must pay out of their income has caused different arguments, agreements, and promises in the past. But considering how just only a few years ago, global warming was denied. Now we now just how much damage we have caused. No one knows whether or not the damages done can be reversed to lessen the extent of damage. Although the intent of the carbon tax is good, there will be much controversy in the public's eye (there always is when it comes to money). Even though I feel that right now the federal government does not agree with the carbon tax and initiating it federally. Environmental regulations for some areas of Canada may not be enough. Each situation is different, and the way some industries and built upon a natural resource such as oil, could cause a unpleasant change to their habits. Oil is not renewable, none of the fossil fuels are, therefore with the usage for it going up, I feel that so should the price. With the way that we are using resources now, I do not feel that environmental regulations and taxes will be enough. We need to find other renewable resources and find a way to minimize the consumption of these resources.

Ch.3-Nova Scotia will overhaul healthcare system

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080117/scotia_health_080117/20080117?hub=Health

Halifax--The Nova Scotia government has announced that there will be a major overhaul for the way they deliver health care. The government has accepted all recommendations from consulting firms that the healtcare system (the way it is configured right now) will not be able to sustain itself. Premier Rodney MacDonald will be implementing the 103 recommendations over the next 3 years. The content of the report will guide the government to provide a safe, accessible, appropiate, effective and efficient healthcare system. Premier MacDonald has made it clear that a thriving healthcare system is crucial to the future of Nova Scotia. Some changes that would affect consumers, doctors and nurses would be changes to the ER in smaller hospitals. The report says that not all smaller hospitals should provide emergency care. This is because some ER's are used as substitutes for doctor's offices. This is not to say that all the rural hospitals will have their ER's closed down, but there will be a change to how they will run. The private partnerships will continue to thrive as long as the government and private firms are acting within the Canada Health Act guidelines, no queue jumping, are are paid with public money.

I feel that this new change for the Nova Scotia health care system will benefit the citizens of Nova Scotia. Considering how many newspaper articles have been about the poor healthcare procedure in our ER's, the change in Nova Scotia could potentially be the push that other provinces need. Healthcare has been a public good and provides positive 3rd party effects. Doctors provide healthcare for us so that we are able to provide for our families and communities for the future. We all pay for healthcare with our taxes and benefit plans that come with many occupations, so then it benefits everyone; a unmet public good.

Ch.2-Private Schools

In this article, reporter Joanna Pachner describes how complex the process of enrolling your child into a private school is. On top of it all, the costly scarifices that are made by parents are amazing. I retrieved this article online at CBC.ca
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/education/private-schools.html

The article starts off describing the differences that set these private schools apart from regular public schools. The competition amoung the private schools can be very high, each school trying to set themselves apart from the rest. Whether the difference is in religion, special subject areas, or gender. The reputation for high prices, smaller classes, and focus on certain criteria; all set them apart from public schools. Every parent would want their child to have the best education to broaden their horizons for their future, but no matter how you word it, what exactly is a good education? Can it be compared with the fees each student's family pays? Can it be judged by the reputation of a school? Would a good education be based on which type of school you went to? Or does it just come down to the student him/herself? The articles explains how no matter the reputation of a school, or focus area of a school the bottome line is the money it takes to keep the student in school after they have been enrolled. Parents can pay from $5000 to $14000 depending on whether they stay at home or go outside of Canada. A general rule amoung these schools is that the high fees are for the specialized programs they offer compared to the "standard" programs of public schools. Now that is only the tuition, the fees for food, books, and other learning material are extra, as well as the application fees and any school field trips and uniforms. So why would parents go through all this trouble? Especially middle-class parents who really do work hard for their paychecks? They do it for their children and all they want is what is best for them.

In my opinion, private schools do have a lot to offer. Due to the demand of upper class and middle class families for higher specialized education for their children, private schools know how to make money. However with the high demand, the supply does not increase, therefore the competition to get into a school can be demanding. I state at the supply does not increase, because the number of private schools is much lower than public schools. In Vancouver I can name only a handful of them. Whereas I could name over 15 different public schools both elementary and secondary. Because parents have the belief that with a higher price brings higher education, private schools are not elastic. No matter how great the price is some parents are still willing to pay it.

Ch.1-How the Chinese dragon brought prosperity to Canada

In this article it explains how not long ago was the age of inflation where people would complain are the high prices as much as they would complain about the weather. However today, we see that prices have been relatively stable and according to the Royal Bank of Canada durable products (not including cars) went down 13.4 percent between 1995 and 2006. On average each year prices drop 0.8%.

Now with the assurance of stable prices, Canadian stores have been flooded with products from a country on the otherside of the world, China. Consumers use to be taken aback by how much an item would cost, now they are shockedn with how little something can cost. For example, a chinese-made TV could cost as little as one hundred dollars. How could China's products save us Canadians so much money? Economist Louis Morel (Bank of Canada) says that due to the massive import flood from China, Canada's inflation rate has reduced by 0.1 percent per year. It may not seem like much but for Canadians it is an extra billion dollars in their pocket. Mr. Morel says that it may not seem like it now, but in the future developed economies will benefit from China's restraint on global prices. He points out that it wouldn't matter if China's prices rose," as long as the price of these goods remains lower than what can be produced in Canada, or by other trading partners, and as long as the Chinese share of Canadian imports continues to rise."

There are two other ways that China helps keep our inflation rate low. For one thing, it reduces the inflationary pressure that usually occurs when the economy heats up, spending increases and producers can't keep up with demand. In a globalized economy with free and rapid trade flows, some of that demand can be met by Chinese imports. For another, China helps our central banks gain face. If inflation stays low in part thanks to cheap Chinese imports, then institutions like the U.S. Federal Reserve and our Bank of Canada accumulate credibility as inflation fighters and inflationary expectations diminish.
http://ctv2.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071003.wibasia03/business/Business/businessBN/ctv-business

This article relates to an opportunity cost for China because even though China provides our economy with low prices, it impacts China's economy because it puts pressure on them to continue with the cheap labour that is shown in factories. If China were to raise their prices it could cause a disagreement between the trading amoungst the two countries. Even with China's massive flood of exports to foreign countries you have to keep in mind that the profit that is going back into China is not as great as what one would expect. That is why the living standard of China is not as high, China has over one billion people residing in the country. Factory workers who work long hours and have a very very very low income, could have a better lifestyle if they had better wages. If China were to raise their prices on export products then they would be able to have a higher income and be able to work towards changing the work conditions of factory workers. However this would impact how many workers businesses would be able to hire, how many products would be sold, and whether or not citizen in Canada would continue to purchase products made in China. Whenever consumers go on vacation and think of China, they automatically think about the good deals and money saving they will be able to have.