Canada’s Economic Policy Uncertainty Index has skyrocketed 400 percent since September, hitting an all-time high in February 2025. This unprecedented level of uncertainty coincides with plummeting business confidence, with 59 percent of small businesses expecting somewhat or much weaker performance by this time next year. Given Canada’s poor track record on business investment, this sharp collapse in business confidence underscores the urgent need to prioritize policies that will encourage business optimism, investment, and growth.
From: Parisa Mahboubi and Tingting ZhangTo: Canadian economic observersDate: March 26, 2025Re: We Have More Workers. Now We Have to Invest in Them As trade tensions with the United States escalate, putting tens of thousands of Canadian jobs at risk, our home-grown productivity problem continues to erode the country’s economic strength. Without a change of strategy, Canada faces […]
Published in The Gazette. Faced with people who constantly threaten others, my father used to say: bien faire et laisser braire, which literally translates as “do a good job and let them bray.” The old British wartime directive “keep calm and carry on,” now so popular, would be the equivalent today. We should heed this […]
From: Christina Caron and Glen HodgsonTo: Economy observersDate: March 10, 2025Re: Canada has a Productivity Growth Problem – as Does Almost Everybody Else Productivity growth is at the core of our prosperity and underpins any improvement in measured living standards. Not surprisingly, Canada’s poor productivity performance is attracting considerable attention. Canada’s productivity growth has been […]
From: Harvey NaglieTo: Financial regulation observers Date: March 6, 2025Re: Ontario’s Financial Future: Leading the Charge for a Competitive and Modernized Regulatory Framework Ontario faces a pivotal moment. As Canada’s financial capital, it has long benefited from a stable financial sector. However, the evolving global landscape demands more than stability – it requires bold leadership. […]
From: Sebastien BetermierTo: Economy observersDate: March 5, 2025Re: Can Public Infrastructure Banks Solve Market Failures and Catalyze Private Investment? Large-scale public and private infrastructure investments are required to meet a wide range of Canada’s current needs. For example, new transport systems, water and wastewater infrastructure are needed to resolve our housing shortage. Challenges to Canadian […]
From: Paul JenkinsTo: Economic policymakersDate: February 7, 2025Re: Where the puck is going Many believe we are living through one of the most revolutionary ages in history. The world has lived through many revolutions: the scientific revolution, the age of enlightenment; the French Revolution, and of course the industrial revolution – all accompanied by dramatic […]
C.D. Howe Institute Research Fellow Ryan Manucha speaks to Andrew Nichols of CBC News about how President Donald Trump’s threats to levy high tariffs on Canadian goods has brought renewed attention to the trade barriers between provinces that hinder Canada’s economic growth.
“On balance, Ottawa’s latest reform of SR&ED is timid. Fortunately, this timidity did not extend to implementing a special low tax rate on income from intellectual property.”
From: Glen HodgsonTo: Trump watchersDate: January 14, 2025Re: Will Trump End US Green Investments? And How Should Canada Respond? Donald Trump will soon be the next US President. And his tariff and border threats dominate the Canadian policy agenda. Meanwhile, a host of other US economic policies have significant implications for Canada. Energy transition policies are […]
To: Our Faithful Readers Date: January 2, 2025 Re: Intelligence Memos: 2024 in Review Intelligence memos are a key way C.D. Howe Institute researchers share their insights about current events. And 2024 had no shortage of material: Canada’s healthcare struggles, housing affordability, the Bank of Canada’s inflation fight, a host of questionable fiscal policies from Ottawa and the […]
With 2024 almost behind us, Michael Hainsworth shares some of the CDHI podcast’s most fascinating interviews and policy conversations during the course of a tumultuous year. Featuring: Wilbur Ross, Conrad Black, Martha Hall Findlay, John Baird, John Manley, Jason Kenney, John Tory, Mitzie Hunter, Rosalie Wyonch, Jane Philpott, Michelle Alexopoulos, Jeremy Kronick, Heather Evans, A.J. […]
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Canada’s Economic Policy Uncertainty Index has skyrocketed 400 percent since September, hitting an all-time high in February 2025. This unprecedented level of uncertainty coincides with plummeting business confidence, with 59 percent of small businesses expecting somewhat or much weaker performance by this time next year. Given Canada’s poor track record on business investment, this sharp collapse in business confidence underscores the urgent need to prioritize policies that will encourage business optimism, investment, and growth. 
From: Parisa Mahboubi and Tingting ZhangTo: Canadian economic observersDate: March 26, 2025Re: We Have More Workers. Now We Have to Invest in Them As trade tensions with the United States escalate, putting tens of thousands of Canadian jobs at risk, our home-grown productivity problem continues to erode the country’s economic strength. Without a change of strategy, Canada faces […] 
Published in The Gazette. Faced with people who constantly threaten others, my father used to say: bien faire et laisser braire, which literally translates as “do a good job and let them bray.” The old British wartime directive “keep calm and carry on,” now so popular, would be the equivalent today. We should heed this […] 
From: Christina Caron and Glen HodgsonTo: Economy observersDate: March 10, 2025Re: Canada has a Productivity Growth Problem – as Does Almost Everybody Else Productivity growth is at the core of our prosperity and underpins any improvement in measured living standards. Not surprisingly, Canada’s poor productivity performance is attracting considerable attention. Canada’s productivity growth has been […] 
From: Harvey NaglieTo: Financial regulation observers Date: March 6, 2025Re: Ontario’s Financial Future: Leading the Charge for a Competitive and Modernized Regulatory Framework Ontario faces a pivotal moment. As Canada’s financial capital, it has long benefited from a stable financial sector. However, the evolving global landscape demands more than stability – it requires bold leadership. […] 
From: Sebastien BetermierTo: Economy observersDate: March 5, 2025Re: Can Public Infrastructure Banks Solve Market Failures and Catalyze Private Investment? Large-scale public and private infrastructure investments are required to meet a wide range of Canada’s current needs. For example, new transport systems, water and wastewater infrastructure are needed to resolve our housing shortage. Challenges to Canadian […] 
From: Paul JenkinsTo: Economic policymakersDate: February 7, 2025Re: Where the puck is going Many believe we are living through one of the most revolutionary ages in history. The world has lived through many revolutions: the scientific revolution, the age of enlightenment; the French Revolution, and of course the industrial revolution – all accompanied by dramatic […] 
C.D. Howe Institute Research Fellow Ryan Manucha speaks to Andrew Nichols of CBC News about how President Donald Trump’s threats to levy high tariffs on Canadian goods has brought renewed attention to the trade barriers between provinces that hinder Canada’s economic growth. 
“On balance, Ottawa’s latest reform of SR&ED is timid. Fortunately, this timidity did not extend to implementing a special low tax rate on income from intellectual property.” 
From: Glen HodgsonTo: Trump watchersDate: January 14, 2025Re: Will Trump End US Green Investments? And How Should Canada Respond? Donald Trump will soon be the next US President. And his tariff and border threats dominate the Canadian policy agenda. Meanwhile, a host of other US economic policies have significant implications for Canada. Energy transition policies are […] 
To: Our Faithful Readers Date: January 2, 2025 Re: Intelligence Memos: 2024 in Review Intelligence memos are a key way C.D. Howe Institute researchers share their insights about current events. And 2024 had no shortage of material: Canada’s healthcare struggles, housing affordability, the Bank of Canada’s inflation fight, a host of questionable fiscal policies from Ottawa and the […] 
With 2024 almost behind us, Michael Hainsworth shares some of the CDHI podcast’s most fascinating interviews and policy conversations during the course of a tumultuous year. Featuring: Wilbur Ross, Conrad Black, Martha Hall Findlay, John Baird, John Manley, Jason Kenney, John Tory, Mitzie Hunter, Rosalie Wyonch, Jane Philpott, Michelle Alexopoulos, Jeremy Kronick, Heather Evans, A.J. […]