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 […] Intelligence Memos: 2024 in Review
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 […] The 2024 Year in Review
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.
William Robson, Colin Busby and Nick Dahir – It’s Time to End the Circus of Fall Economic Statements
From: William Robson, Colin Busby and Nick Dahir To: Canadian economic observers Date: December 23, 2024 Re: It’s Time to End the Circus of Fall Economic Statements Chrystia Freeland’s resignation on the day she was to deliver the federal government’s fall economic statement made the 2024 statement more of a circus than usual. But the fact that fall […] No Balanced Budget For Christmas with Bill Robson
Two bombshells were dropped on Canadians this week with the abrupt departure of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland – and news that Canada spent $20 billion more than it budgeted. On this episode of the podcast, C.D. Howe Institute President and CEO William Robson explains where all this leaves Canada’s finances.