Thorsten Koeppl – For More And Swift Action, Just Look To Germany
To: Department of Finance From: Thorsten Koeppl Date: March 16, 2020 Re: For More and Swift Action, Just Look to Germany Over the past two weeks, both the Bank of Canada and the Department of Finance have weighed in with emergency measures to limit the economic damage from COVID-19. First was the Bank of Canada’s […] William B. P. Robson – Covid-19: How Canada’s Governments Can Really Help
From: William B. P. Robson To: Canada’s governments Date: March 16, 2020 Re: COVID-19: How Canada’s Governments Can Really Help Actions and promises of more from policymakers last week and over the weekend gave Canadians badly needed signs that elected leaders and officials are working to limit the impact of COVID-19 on their health and their economy. An […] Laurin, Robson – Crisis Relief For Canadian Savers
To: Finance Minister Bill Morneau From: Alexandre Laurin and William Robson Re: Crisis Relief for Canadian Savers Date: March 16, 2020 Plummeting stock markets are aggravating anxiety and the potential economic impact of COVID-19. The market crash is worst for older Canadians who rely on savings in registered retirement saving plans (RRSPs) and defined-contribution pension […] Bill Robson on BNN – RRSP age limit needs to be raised amid COVID-19 crisis
Bill Robson, president and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, explains why he thinks the government of Canada should be allowing Canadians to contribute to their RRSPs past 71 and eliminate the drawdowns in RRIFs as markets continue to plunge due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
During This Pandemic, Canadians Are Feeling Real Financial Stress. Here’s How Governments Can Help – Globe And Mail Op-ed
Actions and promises from policy makers last week gave Canadians badly needed signs that elected leaders and officials are working to limit the impact of COVID-19 on their health and their economy.
An emergency interest-rate cut from the Bank of Canada, and its new facility to support short-term credit, will help. Relaxed capital standards to facilitate bank lending from the Superintendent of Financial Institutions are also welcome. The federal government has announced some targeted spending, and plans to make credit available through Crown lenders. Finance Minister Bill Morneau has promised more fiscal measures shortly.
Helpful though these moves and announcements are, the economic repercussions from COVID-19 threaten to…
Alberto Alesina – Explaining Austerity
From: Alberto Alesina To: Canadians concerned about government budget deficits Date: March 12, 2020 Subject: Explaining austerity For more in-depth discussion on this topic, listen to the C.D. Howe Institute podcast interview of Harvard’s Alberto Alesina hosted by Michael Hainsworth, which is summarized here. Austerity very simply is a policy or a combination of policies needed to reduce […] Bill Robson on BNN – COVID-19 and Fiscal Aid
Bill Robson, President and CEO at the C.D. Howe Institute, breaks down the Bank of Canada’s rate cut and Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s support funding markets for businesses. Robson says that the government should be focusing on delivering the aid upfront rather than spreading it overtime, to try and help companies as soon as possible without prolonging the complications.
S2 E4 – Shadow Budget 2020
Ottawa is preparing its 2020 Federal Budget, and the Institute is urging Parliament Hill to cut the corporate tax rate and address the impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian Economy. CEO Bill Robson tells host Michael Hainsworth, further measures may be required. Read the full report Supporting Growth, Restoring Confidence: A Shadow Federal Budget for 2020
Federal Budget Must Spur Growth, Restore Confidence Ottawa must support economic growth and restore Canadians’ confidence in the country’s fiscal management, according to the C.D. Howe Institute’s annual Federal Shadow Budget. Authors William B.P. Robson and Alexandre Laurin show Ottawa could balance federal finances by 2025 through a combination of measures to boost growth and […] Jon Johnson – Combatting Climate Change With Carbon Border Taxes: Good Or Bad Idea?
From: Jon Johnson To: Canadians Concerned About Climate Change Date: March 5, 2020 Re: Combatting Climate Change with Carbon Border Taxes – Good or Bad Idea? European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen proposes a “carbon border tax” to “avoid carbon leakage.” Bernie Sanders advocates a “carbon intensity fee” (i.e., a carbon border tax) on […] Edward Glaeser – Solving The Housing Price Crisis, Part II
From: Edward Glaeser To: Canadians concerned about housing prices Date: March 4, 2020 Re: Solving the Housing Price Crisis, Part II The regulations and structures around housing markets are essentially rigged against the millennial generation trying to break in to the market. They protect existing homeowners against both the nuisance of new construction, any potential negative side effects of […] There is No Try: Sustainable Healthcare Requires Reining in Spending Overshoots
Provincial and territorial governments must hit their budget targets better to make publicly funded healthcare fiscally sustainable, warns a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “There is No Try: Sustainable Healthcare Requires Reining in Spending Overshoots,” William B.P. Robson compares the preliminary and later numbers in National Health Expenditure (NHEX) reports from the […]