Reach for the Stars: How Universities Rank on Their Endowments’ Climate Change Commitments
In 2020, 16 major Canadian universities signed the “Climate Charter for Canadian Universities,” a commitment to manage their assets while considering climate change. However, despite this pledge, a concerted effort to understand how Canadian university…Don Drummond – The 2022 Federal Budget Measures Misaligned with Needs
From: Don Drummond To: Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland Date: April 20, 2022 Re: The 2022 Federal Budget Measures Misaligned with Needs A common reaction to the 2022 federal budget is “not as bad as expected.” What kind of evaluation is this? Faint praise simply because fears of massive new spending did not materialize? But that fear was stoked by […] Edward Iacobucci – The Competition Bureau’s Approach to the Goals of Competition Policy
To: Competition Law Observers From: Edward Iacobucci Date: April 19, 2022 Re: The Competition Bureau’s Approach to the Goals of Competition Policy What should be the goals of competition policy? Section 1.1 of the Competition Act provides that promoting competition promotes efficiency, competitive prices and product choices, and tends to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have […] The Bank of Canada’s rate hike: You can’t fight inflation on the QT – Financial Post Op-Ed
With inflation on the rise, the Bank of Canada kicked its tightening cycle into high gear Wednesday by announcing a 50-basis-point increase in its target for the overnight rate — the first non-25-basis-point hike in over 20 years. It also modified its stance concerning its over-sized holdings of Government of Canada bonds, which swelled its balance sheet during so-called Quantitative Easing (QE). Those days are over: it will now initiate Quantitative Tightening, or QT, by not replacing bonds on its balance sheet as they mature, thus reducing its bond holdings over time.
Some might be disappointed the bank didn’t go further on QT by announcing it would actually start selling its holdings of government bonds. Not to worry.…
David Marshall – Reforming Auto Insurance
From: David Marshall To: Canadian Drivers Date: April 18, 2022 Re: Reforming Auto Insurance Auto insurance premiums in Canada amount to about $27 billion per year. Key reforms could save millions for consumers as they make auto insurance more responsive to market forces, as I outline in my recent C.D. Howe Institute report. Auto insurance for personal injury and […] Le biberon empoisonné – La Presse Op-Ed
Pas facile de lâcher le biberon pétrolier qui empoisonne notre planète. Comment concilier la nécessaire décarbonation et la sécurité énergétique ? Et, de surcroît, assurer une transition juste pour les provinces productrices ?
Ces questions n’ont pas de réponses faciles. À raison, les environnementalistes poussent pour un sevrage et une transition rapide vers les énergies renouvelables. Mais les consommateurs sont habiles à rationaliser l’utilité de leur VUS. Et à l’ère du populisme, les gouvernements craignent de les brusquer. Quant aux pétrolières et aux provinces productrices, elles cherchent évidemment à protéger leur pactole le plus longtemps possible.
En Europe, la guerre en Ukraine a rappelé brutalement l’…
Zelmer, Kronick – Cryptocurrencies No Defence Against Inflation
From: Mark Zelmer and Jeremy M. Kronick To: Canadian Crypto Watchers Date: April 14, 2022 Re: Cryptocurrencies No Defence Against Inflation People have many buoyant expectations of cryptocurrencies as they look for ways to conduct their financial affairs outside the traditional financial system. They hope that, as crypto and its supporting blockchain technology mature, there will eventually be no […] George N. Addy – Competition Act Amendments: First Add Oversight and Accountability
From: George N. Addy To: Competition Law Observers Date: April 12, 2022 Re: Competition Act Amendments: First Add Oversight and Accountability Competition law – traditionally the domain of lawyers, economists and bureaucrats – has in recent years caught the attention of elected officials, media and the general public in many countries. In Canada, calls for amendments to the Competition […] S4 E6: The Economic Consequences of the War in Ukraine
The economic consequences of the Ukraine-Russia War are in the trillions. What does it mean for Canada, energy security and climate change? Dan Ciuriak and Monica Gattinger of the University of Ottawa tell Michael Hainsworth the fall-out has only just begun. Glen Hodgson – Playing It Safe: Assessing the First Federal Green Bond Issue
From: Glen Hodgson To: Canadians Interested in Sustainable Finance Date: April 11, 2022 Re: Playing It Safe: Assessing the First Federal Green Bond Issue The Government of Canada recently issued its first green bond, fulfilling a commitment made in the 2021 Budget. This inaugural federal green bond offering, at $5 billion, is another milestone in the development of the […] Chris Bonnett – The Phoenix of National Pharmacare
From: Chris Bonnett To: Pharmacare Watchers Date: April 7, 2022 Re: The Phoenix of National Pharmacare The Liberal-New Democratic Party agreement last month contained four healthcare goals: Universal national pharmacare, an income-tested dental care program, a Safe Long-Term Care Act and intergovernmental cooperation to improve health outcomes. Each is ambitious, especially in a three-year legislative timeframe, and achieving all […] Can cryptocurrency protect you from inflation? – Globe and Mail Op-Ed
People have many happy expectations of cryptocurrencies as they look for ways to conduct their financial affairs outside the traditional financial system. They hope that, as crypto and its supporting blockchain technology mature, there will eventually be no delays in settling their transactions, cheaper cross-border transactions and no pesky fees on bank accounts, among other advantages.
Many also imagine that crypto assets can protect them from rising inflation. That, however, is one benefit crypto assets do not offer.
Crypto assets such as bitcoin and ethereum and their decentralized blockchain technology offer the promise that, at some point in the future, it may be possible to price goods and services and have one’s…