CD Howe Institute analyses “politicization” of ACOA

A new study released by CD Howe Institute provides further ammunition to critics that call for the dismantling of regional funding agencies. Written by Jack Mintz and Michael Smart, the study — Brooking No Favorites: A New Approach to Regional Development in Atlantic Canada — studies the $4 billion in money dispersed by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) between 1988-2000. It concludes that, in general, the investments have had little impact on economic development and job creation, and are too often influenced by political pork-barreling. The report recommends that the federal government replace business grants with - what else - tax cuts....