Why We Fail to Catch Money Launderers 99.9 percent of the Time
The fight against money laundering in Canada will require tougher measures that shine a light on the perpetrators who now operate in the shadows, says a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Why We Fail to Catch Money Launderers 99.9 percent of the Time,” author Kevin Comeau supports the creation of a publicly […] Ambler, Kronick, Omran – Household Insolvency
From: Steve Ambler, Jeremy Kronick, and Farah Omran To: Canadians Worried About Debt Date: April 30, 2019 Re: Household Insolvency Canadian consumer insolvencies rose 5.4 percent in February compared to a year earlier, according to new figures from the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB). Canadians are constantly barraged with warnings about rising debt […] Bill Young – Corporate Canada is ignoring impact investing. It cannot afford to
From: Bill Young To: Canada’s corporate investors Date: April 12, 2019 Re: Corporate Canada is ignoring impact investing. It cannot afford to. Over the past few years, leading companies worldwide have begun to invest in ventures that can achieve both a financial and a social return. In the modern economy, it is becoming essential. “Society is demanding that companies, both […] B.C.’s anti-money laundering efforts deserve praise, but more needs to be done – Globe and Mail Op-Ed
For years, criminals from around the world have been secretly investing their proceeds of crime in Canadian real estate simply by registering the property in the name of a private corporation, partnership or trust. That will soon come to an end in British Columbia. Well, almost.
The B.C. government recently introduced the Land Owner Transparency Act, which requires corporations, partnerships and trusts to disclose the names of the individuals who control or own them. Those names are then placed on a public registry for all the world to see.
This far-reaching legislation applies 21st-century technology to combat the growing problem of money laundering. All Canadians should applaud the B.C. government for its leadership and…
Central Banks and the Future of Money
April 9, 2019 — Central banks around the world are now giving serious consideration to the pros and cons of making central bank digital currencies available to the general public, says a new study from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Central Banks and the Future of Money,” former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada John […] Alexandre Laurin – The Good, the Bad and the Bottom Line
To: The Hon. Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance From: Alexandre Laurin Date: March 25, 2019 Re: Federal Budget 2019: The Good, the Bad and the Bottom Line Even though Budget 2019 contains no sizeable flagship initiative, its orientation is clear: to appeal to as many as possible by multiplying targeted measures aimed mostly at seniors and millennials, while continuing […] Next-Gen Financial Advice: Digital Innovation and Canada’s Policymakers
The next generation of financial advice requires sweeping change as advisors and regulators adapt to a digital future, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Next-Gen Financial Advice: Digital Innovation and Canada’s Policymakers” author Chuck Grace recommends policymakers get out ahead of the coming transformation in financial advice by clearing regulatory […] Jeremy M. Kronick – What to do about housing?
To: The Hon. Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance From: Jeremy M. Kronick Date: March 13, 2019 Re: What to do about housing? With the budget fast approaching, your department is under pressure to address housing affordability in Canada. The conundrum for you, or any policymaker trying to address affordability, is that in seeking to make […] Entrepreneurial Finance and Economic Growth: A Canadian Overview
The competitiveness of Canadian firms is being hampered by tax policies that discriminate against and penalize companies as they seek equity to fuel growth, says a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Entrepreneurial Finance and Economic Growth: A Canadian Overview,” author Pierre Lortie examines the dynamics of Canadian private and public equity capital […] Hold The Panic: Maybe Canadians Aren’t Facing A Debt Insolvency Crisis After All – Financial Post Op-ed
For much of the last decade, Canadians have been told their debt levels were unsustainable and that their day of reckoning was fast approaching. Data recently released by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) seem to indicate that day has arrived. According to the data, insolvencies by Canadian consumers were up 9.2 per cent in October 2018, compared to a year earlier.
To say the least, these results appear alarming. But in light of what we know about homeownership and net worth, we are not so sure. The data show that Canadians’ net worth has never been higher. Moreover, the data do not distinguish between the more harmful economic effects from households in negative net asset positions, or balance sheet…
Managing Uncertainty: The Search for a Golden Discount-Rate Rule for Defined-Benefit Pensions
Public-Sector pensions are using risky projections to calculate their future liabilities, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Managing Uncertainty: The Search for a Golden Discount-Rate Rule for Defined-Benefit Pensions,” authors Stuart Landon and Constance Smith find that many pension plans use high discount rates that increase the risk they will […] Koeppl, Kronick – How to Regulate Initial Coin Offerings
From: Thorsten Koeppl and Jeremy M. Kronick To: Canadian Securities Regulators Date: December 19, 2018 Re: How to Regulate Initial Coin Offerings Given the boom in, and media attention surrounding, Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), one relevant question is whether this new type of financing fills a market gap in the financial sector, or is just a way of defrauding […]