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Founded in 1986 in Toronto, the Mackenzie Institute is an independent non-profit organization concerned with issues related to political instability and organized violence. This includes such matters as terrorism, political extremism, warfare and organized crime.
The aim of the Institute is to provide research and commentary on its subject matter, to promote informed public debate, and to hold to the proposition that our liberal democratic tradition must be safeguarded and fostered.
The Institute is also concerned with the social and political stability of Canada, and works to enhance it when it can.
The Institute is named for the voyageur Alexander Mackenzie, the first European (and likely the first man) to reach the Pacific Ocean from Upper Canada, and the first to trace the Mackenzie River to the Arctic Ocean. Mackenzie had the courage to explore routes that everyone knew existed, but feared to try. In our own way, we try to emulate his courage and forthrightness.
Recent Newsletters
The Institute has been operating without making any major changes for some years now, and this is not a safe habit. Some introspection is always necessary. Accordingly, we've been reviewing many of our activities and looking at best practices elsewhere.
Given the growing costs of printing and mailing, and the fact that electronic distribution is faster and far more efficient, we would like to convert as much as we can of our mailing list to an electronic format. In sum, we want your-e-mail addresses.
Those of you who lack an e-mail capability, or who want to go on receiving material in the old-fashioned way, are free to ignore this plea. Also, we will continue to send hard copies to libraries and collegial institutions as we always have.
For the rest of you, we are planning on developing new products and services that will only be available via the internet, and so encourage you to participate this way.
Respond by e-mail if you can to: mackenzieinstitute@bellnet.ca and welcome.
Mackenzie Briefing Notes
In early 1994, the Mackenzie Institute published "Sin-Tax Failure", a definitive exploration of the trade in contraband tobacco in Canada and its consequences. Even if we say so, we thought it was a good study and it did get cited in Parliament. We have also been told (unofficially) that Prime Minister Chretien - usually notorious for preferring single sided briefing sheets - read it after he learned that one of his own staffers was providing contraband cigarettes inside the PMO. The story is probably like most apocryphal ones; even if it isn't true, one hopes that it is.
Trouble always slides in on a logarithmic curve – first gently sloping and seemingly nothing to be concerned about; then gradually steepening, but something that one believes they can cope with. Finally, one is left clinging to the cliff face with the abyss far below, and no hand-holds in sight.
It is equally true that hardly any crises have single causes. Between the food crisis and the risk of even more dramatically increased fuel prices, we are sliding into trouble… and there are other factors that may worsen it.
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