Slowing the Erosion of Natural Capital: Scope for Policy Action
From: Christina Caron and Glen HodgsonTo: Economy observersDate: March 12, 2025Re: Slowing the Erosion of Natural Capital: Scope for Policy Action As we outlined yesterday, the erosion of natural capital – or environmental damage, including the impact of climate change – is affecting our economic prosperity. Natural capital’s erosion over the past several decades has […] How to Fund Municipal Water/Wastewater Infrastructure?
From: Lindsay Jones and Judy DezellTo: Municipal infrastructure observersDate: March 7, 2025Re: How to Fund Municipal Water/Wastewater Infrastructure? With international news stories in a daily spin cycle, the everyday issues that dominated the headlines in the last year – like housing and the cost of living – haven’t gone away. Housing supply, we know, is insufficient. […] Surging Federal Workforce, Steady Wage Growth
The number of federal government employees grew sharply from 340,000 in 2014/15 to nearly 440,000 in the most recent fiscal year. The rise in wages and salaries has grown at an average annual rate of 2.8 percent over the same period – a figure that, while more modest, surpasses the average annual rate of inflation […] Who Is Protecting Ontario’s Finances?
From: Brian LewisTo: Ontario votersDate: February 25, 2025Re: Who Is Protecting Ontario’s Finances? There is a saying that truth is the first casualty of war. In Ontario’s current election campaign, government finances appear to be the biggest victim. Expensive promises, slowing economic growth, and the looming uncertainty of a second Trump presidency have darkened the province’s fiscal outlook. […] Canada’s Resilience Wake-Up Call
From: Parisa MahboubiTo: Tariff watchersDate: February 18, 2025Re: Canada’s Resilience Wake-Up Call Donald Trump’s looming tariffs – including potential levies of up to 100 percent on Canadian-made cars – reinforces the ongoing uncertainty surrounding US trade policy. Whether the tariffs ultimately come into effect, partially or otherwise, this moment has exposed critical vulnerabilities in Canada’s […] Opaque, Confusing and Late – Toronto’s Budget Mess Continues
From: Nicholas Dahir and William B.P. RobsonTo: Toronto taxpayers Date: February 11, 2025Re: Opaque, Confusing and Late – Toronto’s Budget Mess Continues The proposed 6.9-percent property tax increase in the Toronto city budget for 2025 is a nasty shock – not least because it follows a 9.5-percent increase last year. What makes it worse is […] On National Unity, It’s the Economy, Stupid
From: Christopher Worswick To: Concerned CanadiansDate: February 3, 2025 Re: On National Unity, It’s the Economy, Stupid Canadian unity is back on the agenda, given the strong polling of the Parti Québécois and its commitment to a sovereignty referendum. Sovereignty support sits around 36 percent, and there is justifiable concern over the outcome of a third Quebec referendum campaign. For one, […] If Ottawa Botches the Economy Now, Canada Might Break Apart
Published in The Globe and Mail. Canadian unity is back on the agenda, given the strong polling of the Parti Québécois and its commitment to a sovereignty referendum. With support for sovereignty at around 36 per cent, there is justifiable concern over the outcome of a third Quebec referendum campaign. For one, it could occur with a […] Some Carbon-Tax Cancellation Questions
“By avoiding discussion of the consequences of cancelling the carbon tax these politicians are being given a free ride. It is time Canadians ask some pointed questions.” Canadians Deserve Better Budgets
From: William B.P. Robson and Nicholas DahirTo: Canadian budget observersDate: January 13, 2025Re: Canadians Deserve Better Budgets Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments are gearing up for another year’s budgets, which inevitably feature clashes over taxation and spending priorities, and, this year, at least one election. Some principles, though, should unite everyone, including the need for government […] William Robson on BNN Bloomberg – Where does the federal government go from here?
Our president and chief executive officer, William Robson, appeared on BNN Bloomberg to talk about potential paths forward for the federal government following Justin Trudeau’s announcement that he would resign as prime minister.
William Robson and Nicholas Dahir – How to Get Better 2025 Budgets from Federal and Provincial Governments
Published in The Globe and Mail. Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments are gearing up for another year’s budgets, which inevitably feature clashes over taxation and spending priorities. Some principles, though, should unite everyone, including the need for government budgets to be accessible, timely and reliable. The C.D. Howe Institute’s annual report card on Canada’s […]