Konrad von Finckenstein – Let the Competition Bureau see wireless industry data
From: Konrad von Finckenstein To: The CRTC and Competition Bureau Date: April 16, 2019 Re: Let the Competition Bureau see wireless industry data The CRTC is conducting a review of the mobile wireless framework. As the notice states: In recent years, mobile wireless services have been a key driver of economic growth in Canada, and today they continue to […] Grant Bishop – Innovation Minister Ignores Competition Policy At Canada’s Peril
From: Grant Bishop To: Canadians concerned about innovation Date: April 2, 2019 Re: Innovation Minister ignores competition policy at Canada’s peril In February, the federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) released a report that aims to lay out Canada’s plan for addressing “areas of weakness along the innovation continuum” through “building innovation ecosystems, […] Konrad W. von Finckenstein – Direction to CRTC Re: Competition
From: Konrad W. von Finckenstein To: The Hon. Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Date: March 6, 2019 Re: “Direction to CRTC re Competition ” Your government is to be commended for issuing its recent draft Direction to the CRTC concerning Implementing the Canadian Telecommunications Policy Objectives to Promote Competition, Affordability, Consumer Interests and Innovation. […] Robson, Laurin – Moving Forward with Regulatory Reform
To: The Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance From: William B.P. Robson and Alexandre Laurin Date: February 12, 2019 Re: Moving Forward with Regulatory Reform The C.D. Howe Institute’s Shadow Federal Budget for 2019 was released last week. Its focus is on ensuring the competitiveness and dynamism of the Canadian economy in the near and medium-term, setting the stage for a […] Robson, Laurin – Tax Relief for the 2019 Federal Budget
To: The Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance From: William B.P. Robson and Alexandre Laurin Date: February 11, 2019 Re: Tax Relief for the 2019 Federal Budget The C.D. Howe Institute’s Shadow Federal Budget for 2019 last week aims to enhance Canada’s competitiveness and dynamism, while setting the stage for a return to surpluses during the next Parliament. Today we examine […] Dyer, Ragan, Shaffer – After Redwater, Environmental Cleanup Risks Remain
From: Simon Dyer, Chris Ragan and Blake Shaffer To: Alberta taxpayers Date: February 5, 2019 Re: After Redwater, Environmental Cleanup Risks Remain The Supreme Court of Canada last week overturned the Court of Appeal of Alberta’s decision in the closely watched Redwater legal case. The court’s ruling ensures environmental cleanup costs will get priority over creditors when companies go […] Irvine, Wyonch – Moving Ontario’s Cannabis Retail Plan From Good To Great
From: Ian Irvine and Rosalie Wyonch To: Canadians concerned about cannabis retailing Date: January 31, 2019 Re: Moving Ontario’s Cannabis Retail Plan from Good to Great The Ontario government’s decision last fall to put the retailing of cannabis in the hands of the private sector was a good one. The province recently held a lottery to determine who would […] Why Ontario should hold a second cannabis retail lottery – Globe and Mail Op-Ed
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s decision last fall to put the retailing of cannabis in the hands of the private sector was a good one. The province recently held a lottery to determine who would operate as a cannabis retailer.
The use of a lottery, as opposed to an auction or a “preferred suppliers” rule, to allocate retail outlets can be defended on two grounds. One is that the government did not wish to give excessive retail power to existing cannabis interests with deep pockets, or to other retailers such as Walmart or a pharmacy chain. An auction would likely have resulted in a concentration of retail power akin to the concentration of production power that exists at present. That concentration of production power already places…
James Mancini – Market Studies: Time For Canada’s Competition Policy Framework To Catch Up
From: James Mancini To: Navdeep Singh Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Date: January 10, 2019 Re: Market studies: Time for Canada’s Competition Policy Framework to Catch Up Canada’s competition policy framework lacks a key component. The Competition Bureau lacks explicit powers to conduct market studies, including information gathering abilities that are standard in many other jurisdictions. As […] Wyonch, Omran – Budget 2019: Regulation of Edibles and Concentrated Marijuana Products
Federal budgets are an annual rite of spring in Ottawa, as is the deluge of advice to the Department of Finance. But budget-making is a yearlong process, and the work is now in progress. Accordingly, the C.D. Howe Institute is presenting a series of Intelligence Memos in the next few weeks, outlining recommendations that we […] The Regent Debate: Oliver, Ecker – Rebuttals
The C.D. Howe Institute’s second Regent Debate took place last month. Four prominent voices sparred over the following question: Is Canada Facing an Existential Crisis in Competitiveness? Today: rebuttals from former federal finance minister Joe Oliver, arguing in the affirmative, and Janet Ecker, former Ontario finance minister arguing against. Joe Oliver: My honourable opponents would like […] The Regent Debate: Duncan, Duguid – Rebuttals
C.D. Howe Institute’s second Regent Debate took place last month. Four prominent voices sparred over the following question: Is Canada Facing an Existential Crisis in Competitiveness? Today: rebuttals from former Ontario finance minister Dwight Duncan, arguing in the affirmative, and Brad Duguid, former Ontario economic development minister arguing against. Dwight Duncan: Well I’d like to, first […]