Canada Needs Playbook for Restarting Economy: C.D. Howe Institute Crisis Working Group on Business Continuity and Trade
April 17, 2020 – Canada needs firm principles and timelines for a graduated return to work, according to a new report from a C.D. Howe Institute Crisis Working Group.
At its latest meeting on Tuesday, April 14, the Working Group on Business Continuity and Trade discussed the need for a “playbook” to restart Canada’s economy, the implementation of supports for businesses to “bridge” the present shutdown, and the importance of continued investment in robust telecommunications infrastructure to meet the current surge in demand.
The group of economists and industry experts is co-chaired by Dwight Duncan, Senior Strategic Advisor at McMillan LLP and former Ontario Minister of Finance, and Jeanette Patell, Vice-President of…
Ottawa Should Release EI and CERB Data Quickly, Regularly: Crisis Working Group on Household Income and Credit Support
April 13, 2020 – The federal government should release data on Employment Insurance (EI) claims and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) on a timely and regular basis, says the C.D. Howe Institute’s Crisis Working Group on Household Income and Credit Support.
The group, comprised of Canadian business leaders and economists and chaired by Michael Horgan, Senior Advisor at Bennett Jones LLP and former Deputy Minister of Finance, Government of Canada, held their third meeting on April 7, 2020 to identify and prioritize key policy challenges during the COVID-19 crisis, and consider policy options and recommendations.
In addition to calls for timely and regular data releases, the group recommended a focus on…
Bank of Canada Should Keep Overnight Rate at 0.25 Percent, Support Financial Market Stability through COVID-19 Crisis: C.D. Howe Institute Monetary Policy Council
April 9, 2020 – The C.D. Howe Institute’s Monetary Policy Council (MPC) recommends that the Bank of Canada maintain its target for the overnight rate, its benchmark policy interest rate, at 0.25 percent for at least a year.
The MPC provides an independent assessment of the monetary stance consistent with the Bank of Canada’s 2 percent inflation target. William Robson, the Institute’s President and CEO, chairs the Council. Council members make recommendations for the Bank of Canada’s upcoming interest-rate announcement, the subsequent announcement, and the announcements six months and one year ahead.
Although the votes for individual members varied somewhat (see table), reflecting the unusual crisis-…
Canada Must Be Champion of Open Trade: C.D. Howe Institute Crisis Working Group on Business Continuity and Trade
April 9, 2020 – Canada must champion open international trade and remain an ‘honest partner’ in the face of a worrying trend among G7 nations towards export restrictions on critical goods, says the C.D. Howe Institute’s Crisis Working Group on Business Continuity and Trade.
The group of economists and industry experts, co-chaired by Dwight Duncan, Senior Strategic Advisor at McMillan LLP and former Ontario Minister of Finance, and Jeanette Patell, Vice-President of Government Affairs and Policy for GE Canada, held its third meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. They emphasized that open international trade is essential to Canada – both in the immediate crisis and for the long-term. The working group observed a worrisome tide…
COVID-19 Response Lacking Information and Supplies: Crisis Working Group on Public Health and Emergency Measures
April 8, 2020 - Addressing the poor coordination of laboratory infrastructure and shortages of personal protective equipment for frontline workers must be the top priority for health officials, according to the Institute’s Crisis Working Group on Public Health and Emergency Measures. In addition, proactive guidance for health care providers and institutions about appropriate practices for directing limited supplies and their reuse would reduce the negative effects of shortages in critical supplies where they arise.
The group also noted there are still places and populations where rapid testing, widely deployed, with rigorous contact tracing and isolation could keep the virus at bay.
…