In the housing crisis, Doug Ford is forced to play the villain due to municipal inaction – Globe and Mail Op-Ed
On Oct. 25, Ontario’s Ford government announced its More Homes Built Faster Act, which would allow the province to rewrite municipal plans, with the aim of allowing more land for development.
These and many more recent changes have been controversial. And more such plans are expected. Premier Doug Ford has been accused of trampling upon democracy and the environment.
But the bottom line is that Mr. Ford’s plans are going to have a substantial beneficial effect on prices for home buyers. Amid a housing crisis, this is what really matters, and Mr. Ford’s moves are necessary because, otherwise, Ontario cities won’t build up and out as much as needed on their own accord.
Some of the biggest changes in the act and…
Glen Hodgson – When Will Canada Adopt Better Flood Risk Management?
From: Glen Hodgson To: Canadian Flood Watchers Date: November 22, 2022 Re: When Will Canada Adopt Better Flood Risk Management? Hurricane Fiona hit Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec very hard. Fiona’s severe coastal flooding and powerful winds destroyed houses, commercial property and infrastructure, with lives lost and a lengthy recovery period ahead. Insured losses are estimated at up to […] Why the Bank of Canada Is Losing Money – and What to Do About It
The size of the Bank of Canada’s balance sheet has significantly increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing and upcoming pressures will keep it oversized for the foreseeable future, according to a new C.D. Howe Institute report. In “The…Le fiasco crypto de FTX – La Presse Op-Ed
« C’est seulement quand la marée se retire qu’on découvre qui nageait nu », a constaté Warren Buffett pendant la crise financière de 2008. Cette fois, des investisseurs sont surpris à poil par l’effondrement de la plateforme FTX, vedette de l’univers crypto.
Des institutionnels réputés ont perdu 1,9 milliard US dans le capital de FTX, dont Ontario Teachers, BlackRock, SoftBank, Temasek et Sequoia. La Caisse, qui a brûlé 150 millions dans Celsius, est en belle compagnie.
Pire est le sort d’un million de clients pris dans un trou de 8 milliards dans les liquidités. La faillite de la deuxième plus importante plateforme de cryptos projette une onde de choc qui fera d’autres victimes.
Voici…
Miville Tremblay – The False Choice Between Inflation and Employment
From: Miville Tremblay To: Canada’s Inflation Watchers Date: November 21, 2022 Re: The False Choice Between Inflation and Employment One cannot choose a combination of employment and inflation the way we shower with our mix of hot and cold water. So, if the Bank of Canada wants to maximize employment in a sustainable way, it must […] Daniel Schwanen – Following Through with Supply Chain Recommendations
From: Daniel Schwanen To: The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport Date: November 18, 2022 Re: Following Through with Supply Chain Recommendations Your National Supply Chain Task Force released its final report last month with advice and recommendations on possible actions by all levels of government and industry to alleviate pressing transportation congestion and fluidity […]Inflation is bad enough. Taxes shouldn’t make it worse – Financial Post Op-Ed
This week we learned the consumer price index was up 6.9 per cent year over year in October on the same day we got predictions about how much the federal government’s inflation-indexed tax will raise the price of beer. Inflation and tax rules often combine to increase Canadians’ tax burdens. Governments seem readier to adjust taxes for inflation when doing so makes the burden heavier than when it makes the burden lighter. That should change.
Adjusting some tax rules for inflation is easy. Most taxes on employment income and government benefit payments use thresholds that rise as prices do. The federal government indexes personal income tax thresholds, benefit payments and most tax credits to the CPI. But some provinces do not.…
Why Canada’s economic forecasts must factor in climate change – Ottawa Citizen Op-Ed
Canada’s Parliamentary Budget Office just did something important and long overdue. For the first time, the country’s official financial watchdog quantified the costs of climate change for Canada’s economy, showing that worsening climate impacts are a drag on economic growth. This is a crucial step in beginning to reduce the economic risks Canada can expect in a warming world.
There’s still a long way to go, however, and recent moves by Australia and the United Kingdom can point us in the right direction.
In Canada, our long-term economic projections are largely based on historical averages of productivity that do not account for the fact that the climate is now changing rapidly, bringing with it more…
Zhang, Mahboubi – The Recent Immigration Policy Change, How Should We Navigate It?
From: Tingting Zhang and Parisa Mahboubi To: Canadians Concerned About Immigration Policy Date: November 16, 2022 Re: The Recent Immigration Policy Change, How Should We Navigate It? As of yesterday, international students are permitted to work more than 20 hours a week off campus, as the federal government tries to address Canada’s labour shortage. This […] Power When You Need It: The Case for Small Nuclear Reactors
The 2021 Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act requires Canada to achieve “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by 2050. An important component of the goal is that the power sector realize “net zero” by 2050. The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) has developed a net-zero projection for the power sector, emphasizing renewables (hydro, wind, solar). Wind and solar […]