How Private Investment in Infrastructure Can Benefit Taxpayers: Globe and Mail Op-Ed
Canada is about to embark on one of the largest infrastructure investment programs in recent history, and Ottawa is poised to set up the Canada Infrastructure Bank to attract institutional investment. An infrastructure bank is a great start, but governments at all levels have more to do to enable private investment in the program.
While Canadian governments worry about their limited ability to rack up debt to finance infrastructure investment, major Canadian institutional investors are investing in such programs abroad. They invest abroad because Canadian governments have opened few opportunities for institutional infrastructure investment here.
It’s important to remember the benefits of using private investment in place…
Why the B.C. Liberals and NDP are Both Wrong About Bridge Tolls: Maclean’s
Read the latest opinion piece from Blake Shaffer in Maclean’s.
Benjamin Dachis – The Role for the Infrastructure Bank
From: Benjamin Dachis To: Jim Leech, Special Advisor on the Canada Infrastructure Bank Date: March 31, 2017 Re: The Role for the Infrastructure Bank With the government’s budget planning to expedite the creation of the infrastructure bank you need to set up, it’s now time to turn principles into practice. Here’s how you can get the […] Financing Canada’s Top 100 Infrastructure Projects
Canadian governments are on the verge of the largest infrastructure spending increases in decades. The challenge for policymakers at all levels of governments is to decide whether they should seek more private funding. In this edition of Graphic Intelligence, we drill down on the largest 100 infrastructure projects in Canada in 2016. Each rectangle in […]New and Improved: How to Bring Institutional Investment into Public Infrastructure
Ottawa should encourage widespread investment in existing and new infrastructure by institutional investors, such as pension plans and insurers, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “New and Improved: How to Bring Institutional Investment into Public Infrastructure,” author Benjamin Dachis provides Ottawa’s new infrastructure bank with a blueprint for opening up […] Ben Dachis on BNN: Let private investors build public infrastructure
Ben Dachis, associate director of research at C.D. Howe, talks about a new report calling for Ottawa to let private investors fund public infrastructure.
Dachis and Thivierge – Following the Australian Airport Model Can Cut Fees for Travellers
From: Benjamin Dachis and Vincent Thivierge To: The Hon. Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport Date: March 24, 2017 Re: Following the Australian Airport Model Can Cut Fees for Travellers There’s been much talk about whether the government should sell some of its ownership stake in Canada’s major airports. The fiscal benefits of more money to […] Benjamin Dachis – Re-Heat Tolls Plan to Make HOT Lanes
From: Benjamin Dachis To: John Tory, Mayor of Toronto CC: Toronto City Council Date: March 1, 2017 Re: Re-Heat Tolls Plan to Make HOT Lanes Tolling the Gardiner and Don Valley Expressways was a good idea. But, the Premier rejected the idea and said that she wanted commuters to have affordable options to tolls. Now […] Steven Robins – Airports for Sale?
From: Steven Robins To: The Hon. Marc Garneau, Minister of Transportation CC: The Hon. Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance Date: February 23, 2017 Re: Airports for Sale? The federal government’s Fall Fiscal Update planned $186 billion in infrastructure spending. The question is how to pay for it. If Ottawa sold its eight major airports, it […]A Better Flight Path: How Ottawa can Cash In on Airports and Benefit Travellers
The C.D. Howe Institute is embarking on a series of publications on Canada’s infrastructure policies, including electricity, airports, water, and an infrastructure bank. Below is a timely first look at airports. Ottawa should sell its stakes in Canada’s major airports to better serve travellers and raise cash, according to a new report from the C.D. […]