Pension Tension and the Trump Trade with Claude Lamoureux
We’re saying “bye America, buy Canada” amid Donald Trump’s trade war. But even before he returned to office, there has been a growing drumbeat to turn pensions into a policy tool. Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan guru Claude Lamoureux joins host Michael Hainsworth to discuss why forcing a “buy Canadian” strategy won’t work long-term. Bob Baldwin Named C.D. Howe Institute Fellow Emeritus
March 5, 2025 – The C.D. Howe Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of Bob Baldwin as a Fellow Emeritus of the Institute. A long-time member of the C.D. Howe Institute’s Pension Policy Council, Bob has more than 30 years of experience advising on pension issues. His contributions include serving as Chair of the […]Having a More Informed Debate on the Alberta Pension Plan
To: Alberta Pension WatchersFrom: Trevor TombeDate: January 30, 2025Re: Having a More Informed Debate on the Alberta Pension Plan On December 20, 2024, the federal Chief Actuary released their analysis of what Alberta would receive should it decide to exit the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). In short, the Government of Alberta’s preferred estimate that it would receive 53 […] Laurin, Robson – The Public Service Pension Plan Surplus is Not Real
From: Alex Laurin and William B.P. Robson To: Canadian fiscal observers Date: December 10, 2024 Re: The Public Service Pension Plan Surplus is Not Real Last month, the federal government announced that the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) – the plan for its public-service employees – has an “excess surplus.” By the government’s accounting, the […] Ed Waitzer and Keith Ambachtsheer – Alberta Pensioners Deserve Better Answers About AIMCo Purge
From: Ed Waitzer and Keith AmbachtsheerTo: Canadian pension observersDate: November 25, 2024Re: Alberta Pensioners Deserve Better Answers About AIMCo Purge The wholesale dismissal this month of AIMCo’s highly respected board and senior management team is difficult to understand. The Alberta government has a lot of explaining to do, even after last week’s reappointment of three directors and the installation of […]Colin Busby – Ultimatum Day Arrives: What to do about Bill C-319 and OAS?
From: Colin BusbyTo: Pension observersDate: October 29, 2024Re: Ultimatum Day Arrives: What to do about Bill C-319 and OAS? In late September, the Bloc Québecois, which holds 33 seats in the House of Commons – enough to give the Liberal minority government (153 seats) the votes it needs to pass votes of confidence – gave […] Alex Laurin and Nick Dahir – Exploring Alternatives to Bill C-319: How Best to Support Canada’s Seniors
From: Alex Laurin and Nick Dahir To: Canadian Policy Watchers Date: October 28, 2024 Re: Exploring Alternatives to Bill C-319: How Best to Support Canada’s Seniors As the NDP ends its supply and confidence deal with the Liberal minority government, the Bloc Québécois has stepped in with an offer: they will support the government in exchange for implementing the […]Barry Gros – Ontario’s New Target Benefit Plan Framework: One Caveat
To: Ontario Pension Observers From: Barry Gros Date: October 23, 2024 Re: Ontario’s New Target Benefit Plan Framework: One Caveat Last week, Ontario’s Ministry of Finance announced the finalization of regulations concerning its target benefit pension plan framework, to be implemented on January 1. The target benefit pension (TBP) plan framework is a welcome clarification of the rules […] Bob Baldwin – Pension Bill Paralysis Provides Useful Chance for Broader Thinking
From: Bob Baldwin To: Pension watchers Date: October 11, 2024 Re: Pension Bill Paralysis Provides Useful Chance for Broader Thinking With the members of the government, and notably all cabinet members, voting against Bill C-319, the Bloc bill to increase Old-age Security (OAS) benefits by 10 percent to those aged 65 to 74, it appears to be fully stalled […] John Stapleton – There are Better Ways to Spend $3 Billion on Seniors than Boosting OAS
From: John Stapleton To: Anti-poverty observers Date: October 4, 2024 Re: There are Better Ways to Spend $3 Billion on Seniors than Boosting OAS The Bloc Québécois push to expand Old Age Security payments to younger seniors has dominated much of the policy discussion in the House of Commons. Bill C-319 would increase OAS to 65–74-year-olds by 10 percent […] Brian Lewis – Doug Ford’s inaction has left Ontario’s most vulnerable without a fighting chance
Published in the Toronto Star
October 1 could have been a celebratory day for Ontarians concerned with the struggles of low-income residents. After all, it’s the day the minimum wage will nudge up – following behind inflation, sure – but up nonetheless. But if you’re living on Ontario Works, or what used to be called welfare, the date will carry a more bitter significance. It will have been a full six years since any increase in the amounts for basic needs and shelter.
In that time, inflation has worked its ugly powers and the price of everything has gone up. There has been a 20-per-cent hike in the cost of living for the typical Ontario family, hitting the basics like food and housing especially hard.
If you happen to…
Lawrence Herman – Behold dairy lobby’s power, as Bloc holds Liberals hostage over supply management
Published in the Globe and Mail.
There’s something wrong when a narrow interest group can dominate Canadian trade policy. That’s exactly what has happened in the case of the dairy industry, pushing its protectionist agenda on Canadians, not only in getting an ill-considered and self-serving piece of legislation to sail through the House of Commons but in having the Bloc Québécois make final enactment of Bill C-282 a red line for supporting the minority Trudeau government.
Bill C-282 is a Bloc private member’s bill that would exempt the supply managed dairy sector (as well as poultry and eggs) from all future trade negotiations. Even though the bill has already passed the House and is now in the Senate, Bloc Leader Yves-…