Sora is a Lesson on AI Innovation that Canada Needs to Avoid

From: Anindya SenTo: Canadian AI watchersDate: November 14, 2025Re: Sora is a Lesson on AI Innovation that Canada Needs to Avoid The government’s 30-day sprint to solicit submissions to its AI Strategy Task Force has ended and the new body will set out to define Canada’s approach to the use of artificial intelligence technologies. But […]

Canada’s Financial Rules May Be Holding Growth Back

October 16, 2025 – Canada’s weak growth, low investment and lagging innovation point to the need for a more modern regulatory philosophy that balances both protection and progress, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Pruning the Rulebook: Canada’s Financial Regulatory Scorecard, Year Two,” Gherardo Caracciolo’s updated findings revealed similar results […]

Pruning the Rulebook: Canada’s Financial Regulatory Scorecard, Year Two

In the second year of our regulatory scorecard paper, results continue to show the need for a more balanced approach to financial oversight, one that explicitly incorporates innovation and competition alongside traditional stability and consumer protection goals. Newly issued and updated regulatory documents did not change previous results. The imbalance reflects the mandates of Canadian […]

Bill C-5 – Pros, Cons, and Options for Domestic Investors

From: Brad Gilmour and Sander DuncansonTo: Major project watchersDate: October 3, 2025Re: Bill C-5 – Pros, Cons, and Options for Domestic Investors Pessimism about the ability to advance Canadian projects has made infrastructure investors wary. Lack of confidence has grown from necessary yet increasingly uncertain and complicated environmental and regulatory approval processes, with multiple layers […]

Restoring Credibility to Canada’s Climate Change Policies and Targets

From: Lennie KaplanTo: Climate policy watchersDate: September 30, 2025Re: Restoring Credibility to Canada’s Climate Change Policies and Targets There are three things to watch for this fall as the federal government reviews and renews its climate change policies and targets. Under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, Environment and Climate Change Canada must prepare a […]

Auto Insurance Over-Regulation is Punishing Drivers

From: Gherardo Gennaro CaraccioloTo: Auto insurance watchersDate: July 22, 2025Re: Auto Insurance Over-Regulation is Punishing Drivers Car insurance is unavoidable. If you want to drive, you have to buy it. Because it’s mandatory, some people argue we need regulation to avoid unjustified sudden price hikes. That may sound reasonable. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. […]

Car insurance rules may hurt the drivers they’re meant to protect

Published in Financial Post By Gherardo Caracciolo Car insurance is unavoidable. If you want to drive, you have to buy it. Because it’s mandatory some people argue we need regulation to ensure consumers don’t face unjustified sudden price hikes. That may sound reasonable. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. In a recent C.D. Howe Institute paper, […]

A smarter, leaner regulatory regime is essential for Canada’s ability to thrive

From: Heather ScoffieldTo: Federal regulators and Treasury Board President Shafqat AliDate: July 11, 2025Re: A smarter, leaner regulatory regime is essential for Canada’s ability to thrive Canada’s regulatory burden has become the stuff of legend, deterring investment and slowing growth because of rules that overlap, are too vague or too convoluted to follow properly, take […]

Playing With Trade Talk Fire on Supply Management

From: Colin Busby, William B.P. Robson, and Daniel SchwanenTo: Canadian trade watchersDate: July 9, 2025Re: Playing With Trade Talk Fire on Supply Management After climbing down on the digital services tax, Canada is back at the table with the United States to negotiate the two countries’ trade relationship. Unfortunately, Canadian negotiators have a fresh problem to […]

Provinces Need to Play if Internal Trade Barriers are to Fall

From: Internal trade watchersTo: Daniel Schwanen Date: July 7, 2025Re: Provinces Need to Play if Internal Trade Barriers are to Fall Donald Trump’s tariff threats have focused much needed attention on making trade within Canada easier. Prime Minister Mark Carney made a promise soon after the election: To have free trade by Canada Day. To that end, the federal […]

New supply management law ties the hands of our trade negotiators

Published in The Globe and Mail After climbing down on the digital services tax, Canada is back at the table with the U.S. to negotiate the two countries’ trade relationship. Unfortunately, Canadian negotiators have a fresh problem to deal with: the recent passage of a bill through Parliament that protects supply management. The narrative of Canada […]

How About a Dedicated National Security Tax for Canada?

From: Michael WernickTo: Defence spending watchers Date: July 3, 2025Re: How About a Dedicated National Security Tax for Canada? Over the past year, a chorus has risen calling for an increase in defence spending. Canada has been pressed to show it is putting enough effort into protecting and policing its own land, sea and air borders while also […]

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