Business needs to push for progress at the World Trade Organization – Financial Post

The World Trade Organization, the multilateral body that oversees the global trading system, is not top of mind for the business community. But it should be. The WTO’s current diminished state affects international commerce generally. Without universally respected rules, uncertainty prevails, and uncertainty raises businesses’ costs. Without the multilateral disciplines the WTO provides, a quilt of different agreements will impose a bewildering set of differing commercial requirements in different nations.

The collapse of the Doha Round negotiations in 2011 was a dire setback for the WTO. Since then it has been unable to play a meaningful role in meeting today’s challenging trade issues, including carbon-free goods, the…

Pre-Budget Recommendations – Webcast Presentation

Lawrence Herman – The Coming War Over Chinese Electric Vehicles

Canadians Could Have a Balanced Budget and Better Tax System: C.D. Howe Institute Shadow Budget

Less for Ottawa, More for Canadians: The C.D. Howe Institute’s 2024 Shadow Budget

Brian Livingston – Ottawa’s Blind EV Optimism

The other immigration problem: Too much talent is leaving Canada – Globe and Mail

Surging immigration numbers are top-of-mind for Canadians. But as we reconsider targets for newcomers and address pain points such as housing, we also need to pay attention to talent retention.

Tens of thousands of people leave Canada every year, many of them talented and entrepreneurial people we will miss. Importantly, a significant fraction are themselves immigrants, which may mean we are missing an opportunity to boost Canada’s long-term growth and prosperity.

A recent study by Statistics Canada, using a data set that combines detailed immigration department data with a Canada Revenue Agency database, highlights the significant phenomenon of emigration among immigrants in Canada. The overall…

When Ottawa caps interest rates, high-risk borrowers don’t get loans – Financial Post

Ottawa has set its sights on reining in predatory lending rates. Last year it set out draft regulations that would lower the rate non-prime lenders can charge from 48 to 35 per cent (“annual percentage rate” or APR). Will that keep people who are prey to predatory lending from entering a cycle of debt? Probably not.

There are two types of borrowers, prime and non-prime. Prime borrowers have strong credit scores that give banks and credit unions confidence they will pay their loans on time and in full. As a result, they can borrow at reasonable interest rates. Non-prime borrowers are more diverse. Some have a checkered repayment history. Others, including immigrants, have no Canadian credit history. Because banks and credit…

Canada must realize that a strong economy comes from a strong military – Globe and Mail

Canada is a trading nation. Trade keeps the economy working, vital to the well-being of every Canadian. Securing and maintaining the country’s trade is thus one of the topmost responsibilities of the federal government, requiring skill, determination and a strategic focus on the national interest.

That means ensuring, among other things, that Canada’s weak performance in defence and security doesn’t spill over and harm the country’s key trading relationships, particularly when it comes to dealing with the United States, our biggest economic partner. The danger is that this spillover could well happen.

Former U.S. president Donald Trump caused a stir recently with his threat to NATO allies for not spending enough…

Mitzie Hunter – Canada Needs to Rethink Immigration

Ian Irvine – Vaping Taxes: Bad Fiscal Policy is also Bad Health Policy

Tingting Zhang – Canada’s Nursing Shortage: It’s Time to Focus on Retention