From: Mawakina Bafale, Peter MacKenzie and William B.P. RobsonTo: Canada’s PolicymakersDate: March 31, 2026 Re: Robust-Looking Foreign Investment Flows are a Sideshow – Capital Investment that Raises Productivity is What We Need Statistics Canada’s announcement last month that Canada attracted $96.8 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025 – the biggest FDI inflow since 2007 – sounded like good news. The prime minister was quick to cite it as evidence of investor confidence in the Canadian […]
Published in Financial Post. Statistics Canada’s announcement last month that Canada attracted $96.8 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025 — the biggest FDI inflow since 2007 — sounded like good news. The prime minister was quick to cite it as evidence of investor confidence in the Canadian economy. Others might point to the fall in Canadian […]
From: James MilwayTo: Productivity observersDate: March 12, 2026Re: Want More Innovation? Increase Pressure, Not Support Canada’s policymakers are concerned about our poor economic productivity and innovation performance. The two are the highly linked – productivity improvement (more value added per hour worked) comes from innovation in process or product. But what drives innovation and hence […]
After almost 40 years at the C.D. Howe Institute, President Emeritus Bill Robson reflects on the Institute’s success, the future of Canada, and the state of political discourse. Watch the exit interview as host Michael Hainsworth tours the new headquarters with the man who built it.
After almost 40 years at the C.D. Howe Institute, President Emeritus Bill Robson reflects on the Institute’s success, the future of Canada, and the state of political discourse. Watch the exit interview as host Michael Hainsworth tours the new headquarters with the man who built it.
Canada has invested billions of dollars in artificial intelligence (AI) talent, research, and computing infrastructure, but an important foundation for its innovation remains underdeveloped: strong, secure, and trusted data supply chains. Without clearer rules and institutions to support responsible data sharing, Canada risks constraining AI innovation and falling behind global competitors
February 12, 2026 – Canada has invested billions of dollars in artificial intelligence (AI) talent, research, and computing infrastructure, but an important foundation for its innovation remains underdeveloped: strong, secure, and trusted data supply chains. Without clearer rules and institutions to support responsible data sharing, Canada risks constraining AI innovation and falling behind global competitors, […]
From: Peter HowittTo: Concerned CanadiansRe: Creative Destruction and Canada’s Strategic Imperative: Openness Over Isolation Artificial intelligence, rising protectionism, and uncertainty in Canada’s most important bilateral relationship have converged to test the country’s resilience. While some interpret these developments as a call for renewed self‑sufficiency, a more historically grounded reading suggests the opposite. Periods of rapid […]
AI is at the center of “creative destruction” of the Canadian Economy. The Institute’s 2025 Nobel winner Peter Howitt sits down with our Michael Hainsworth to discuss the technology, our trade war with Washington, and why you should always keep your phone charged.
AI is at the center of “creative destruction” of the Canadian Economy. The Institute’s 2025 Nobel winner Peter Howitt sits down with our Michael Hainsworth to discuss the technology, our trade war with Washington, and why you should always keep your phone charged.
Canada exports more research and development (R&D) services than it buys from abroad, while paying significantly more than it receives for the use of intellectual property (IP) (e.g., royalties or copyrights) derived from R&D. In contrast, the UK or US both export research services and receive net payments for the use of their IP abroad, […]
From: Harvey NaglieTo: Innovation observers Date: January 16, 2026Re: Canada’s AI Coordination Gap: Federal Levers Needed to Prevent Market Fragmentation A key challenge for Canada’s artificial intelligence policy is avoiding jurisdictional fragmentation. As provinces, agencies, and regulators develop procurement rules, public-sector AI requirements, and privacy expectations on separate tracks, Canadian firms – particularly smaller ones […]
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From: Mawakina Bafale, Peter MacKenzie and William B.P. RobsonTo: Canada’s PolicymakersDate: March 31, 2026 Re: Robust-Looking Foreign Investment Flows are a Sideshow – Capital Investment that Raises Productivity is What We Need Statistics Canada’s announcement last month that Canada attracted $96.8 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025 – the biggest FDI inflow since 2007 – sounded like good news. The prime minister was quick to cite it as evidence of investor confidence in the Canadian […] 
Published in Financial Post. Statistics Canada’s announcement last month that Canada attracted $96.8 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025 — the biggest FDI inflow since 2007 — sounded like good news. The prime minister was quick to cite it as evidence of investor confidence in the Canadian economy. Others might point to the fall in Canadian […] 
From: James MilwayTo: Productivity observersDate: March 12, 2026Re: Want More Innovation? Increase Pressure, Not Support Canada’s policymakers are concerned about our poor economic productivity and innovation performance. The two are the highly linked – productivity improvement (more value added per hour worked) comes from innovation in process or product. But what drives innovation and hence […] 
After almost 40 years at the C.D. Howe Institute, President Emeritus Bill Robson reflects on the Institute’s success, the future of Canada, and the state of political discourse. Watch the exit interview as host Michael Hainsworth tours the new headquarters with the man who built it. 
Canada has invested billions of dollars in artificial intelligence (AI) talent, research, and computing infrastructure, but an important foundation for its innovation remains underdeveloped: strong, secure, and trusted data supply chains. Without clearer rules and institutions to support responsible data sharing, Canada risks constraining AI innovation and falling behind global competitors 
From: Peter HowittTo: Concerned CanadiansRe: Creative Destruction and Canada’s Strategic Imperative: Openness Over Isolation Artificial intelligence, rising protectionism, and uncertainty in Canada’s most important bilateral relationship have converged to test the country’s resilience. While some interpret these developments as a call for renewed self‑sufficiency, a more historically grounded reading suggests the opposite. Periods of rapid […] 
AI is at the center of “creative destruction” of the Canadian Economy. The Institute’s 2025 Nobel winner Peter Howitt sits down with our Michael Hainsworth to discuss the technology, our trade war with Washington, and why you should always keep your phone charged. 
Canada exports more research and development (R&D) services than it buys from abroad, while paying significantly more than it receives for the use of intellectual property (IP) (e.g., royalties or copyrights) derived from R&D. In contrast, the UK or US both export research services and receive net payments for the use of their IP abroad, […] 
From: Harvey NaglieTo: Innovation observers Date: January 16, 2026Re: Canada’s AI Coordination Gap: Federal Levers Needed to Prevent Market Fragmentation A key challenge for Canada’s artificial intelligence policy is avoiding jurisdictional fragmentation. As provinces, agencies, and regulators develop procurement rules, public-sector AI requirements, and privacy expectations on separate tracks, Canadian firms – particularly smaller ones […]