William B.P. Robson – A Professional Nag Pauses To Reflect
From: William B.P. Robson To: Fellow Canadians Date: January 7, 2020 Re: A Professional Nag Pauses to Reflect We at the C.D. Howe Institute devote much of our daily attention to criticizing poorly conceived and ineptly implemented policy in Canada. As we should. That’s our job. And our governments keep us all too well supplied. When William Watson asked […] A Professional Critic’s Festive Fulmination – Financial Post Op-ed
My colleagues and I at the C.D. Howe Institute devote much of our daily attention to criticizing poorly conceived and ineptly implemented policy in Canada. As we should. That’s our job. And our governments keep us all too well supplied.
On occasion, however, people outside Canada ask us about how Canada ranks as a place to live, work, invest, or locate a business. For me, those questions trigger a happy 180-degree turn. The professional nag steps back and the booster of Canada as one of the world’s most favoured nations takes over. As we welcome 2020 with some thoughts about things we in Canada do well, and should keep doing well, here are three ways we stand out.
First on my list — first on so many people’s lists — is…
Seriously Toronto, Another Tax Hike? A $1.4 Billion Surplus Isn’t Big Enough? – Financial Post Op-ed
Toronto city council has just approved an extra increase in property taxes — another 1.0 per cent in 2020 and 2021 on top of a previously approved 0.5 per cent hike, and a full 1.5 per cent for four years starting in 2022. Mayor John Tory, previously a staunch supporter of holding the line on property taxes, pushed it. The vote went 22-3 in favour — a convincing margin considering most politicians hate to vote for higher taxes. Even many conservative commentators praised the hike as necessary to support social services and better infrastructure. Which makes me wonder: how many on council, in the media, or the city at large know anything about Toronto’s fiscal numbers? Does anyone?
Here’s a test. What was the City of Toronto’s…
Bill Robson on BNN – What cities can do to improve their fiscal transparency
Bill Robson, President and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss the latest federal fiscal update as well as the organization’s new report evaluating the fiscal transparency of Canada’s municipalities.
From A to F: Grading the Fiscal Transparency of Canada’s Cities, 2019
December 10, 2019 – Bad budgeting practices impede councillors, taxpayers and voters seeking accountability from city staff and elected representatives, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “From A to F: Grading the Fiscal Transparency of Canada’s Cities, 2019,” authors William B.P. Robson and Farah Omran grade the clarity, comprehensiveness, and […] Benjamin Dachis – Mandate Letters To The Incoming Canadian Government
To: The Incoming Federal Government Date: October 21, 2019 From: Benjamin Dachis Re: Mandate letters to the incoming Canadian government Today, Canadians go to the polls to elect the 43rd Parliament. The shape of the next government is uncertain. But no matter the outcome, improving the living standards of Canadians should be at the forefront of the government’s agenda. This […] William B.P. Robson – The Answer To Calgary’s Budgeting Woes Is … Better Budgeting!
To: The City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta From: William B.P. Robson Date: November 18, 2019 Re: The Answer to Calgary’s Budgeting Woes is … Better Budgeting! The dispute between the City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta over the city’s budget and provincial transfers needs a few facts. One, in particular, would help: the city’s […] Credit Check: Alberta’s Tax Credits Up For Elimination
Alberta’s 2019 budget, released yesterday, promises a return to a balanced budget by 2022/23 and reductions in spending after having the highest spending per capita of any province in 2017, spending 15 percent above nationwide average without delivering demonstrably superior outcomes. This is a budget that confronts hard choices and follows through on tax reduction […] Donald Drummond – Ministerial Mandate Letter: Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
As Canada forms its next government, the Prime Minister’s Office will be preparing ministerial mandate letters. In this special Intelligence Memo series, policy experts highlight key challenges and priorities in each minister’s portfolio. From: Donald Drummond To: The incoming Ministers of Crown‑Indigenous Relations and Indigenous Services Date: October 25, 2019 As you embark as Ministers […] Alexandre Laurin – Ministerial Mandate Letter: Minister Of Finance
As Canada forms its next government, the Prime Minister’s Office will be preparing ministerial mandate letters. In this special Intelligence Memo series, policy experts highlight key challenges and priorities in each minister’s portfolio. From: Alexandre Laurin To: The incoming Minister of Finance Date: October 21, 2019 As you embark on the start of your term as Minister of […] William B.P. Robson – Six Months After Fiscal Year-end, It’s Time All Canada’s Legislators Saw The Numbers
From: William Robson To: Members of Federal and Provincial Public Accounts Committees Date: September 30, 2019 Re: Six Months after Fiscal Year-End, It’s Time All Canada’s Legislators Saw the Numbers The end of September marks six months since March 31, the end of the fiscal year for Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments. Six months […] William B.P. Robson and Farah Omran – A Bad Budget Habit Afflicts Most Senior Governments
From: William B.P. Robson and Farah Omran To: Canada’s finance ministers Date: July 12, 2019 Re: A Bad Budget Habit Afflicts Most Senior Governments Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments have spent a combined total of $91 billion more than they said they would since 2000. In our new C.D. Howe Institute Commentary we compare the budgets of Canada’s […]