Keep the virtual healthcare revolution going – Financial Post Op-Ed
One very big silver lining to 2020 was the dramatic uptake in the use of virtual health care in Canada. During the first wave of the pandemic over 70 per cent of outpatient care was delivered virtually. Before COVID-19, speaking to a family doctor about a new health problem, simply getting a prescription renewal or having a visit with a specialist required most Canadians to take time off work, travel to their local clinic or hospital and sit in a waiting room for upwards of an hour or more. But now doctors can bill for virtual visits and Canadians can receive medical care from the comfort of their own home.
As the second wave crests, and hospitals are once again filling up with COVID patients, providing care to other patients…
Fiscal dominance would hobble the Bank of Canada – Financial Post Op-Ed
The Bank of Canada did not surprise last week on its target for the overnight interest rate, which remains at 25 basis points and is expected to stay there until the economy fully recovers from the pandemic recession, sometime in 2023, according to the bank’s projections.
The real intrigue in the bank’s regular announcements these days surrounds its purchases of Government of Canada debt, and what they mean for its relationship with the federal government. Wednesday’s announcement left these purchases unchanged at $4 billion per week. However, this announcement requires a deeper dive, coming as it does after the federal government’s fall economic statement laid down substantial deficits and no fiscal anchor on the horizon.
…End of Recession Too Early to Call: C.D. Howe Institute Business Cycle Council
December 17, 2020 – Despite economic recovery since April, it is too early to call the end of the recession, according to a new C.D. Howe Institute Business Cycle Council report.
The Council, comprised of Canada’s preeminent economists in the field and co-chaired by Steve Ambler and Jeremy Kronick, is an arbiter of business cycle dates in Canada. The Council typically meets annually, but also when economic conditions indicate the possibility of entry to, or exit from, a recession.
The Council met on December 7 to review the case for calling April 2020 as the end of the recession based on signs of economic recovery since then.
Entering and exiting a recession implies a change in the direction of economic…
Alexandre Laurin – Is The Canada Pension Plan In A Net Asset Position? No, And It’s Not Supposed To Be
From: Alexandre Laurin To: Canadian Pension Watchers Date: December 17, 2020 Re: Is the Canada Pension Plan in a Net Asset Position? No, and it’s Not Supposed to Be Analysts often report that the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and its parallel Quebec Pension Plan (QPP), are in a substantial “net asset” position. Canadians did accumulate […] Elyse Allan Re-appointed As C.D. Howe Institute Senior Fellow
William Robson, CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, announces the re-appointment of Elyse Allan as a senior fellow of the Institute. “Elyse’s remarkable career in business and experience with policy-oriented…Don Drummond – Through The Fiscal Fog: Large Deficits And Debt As Far As The Eye Can See
From: Don Drummond To: Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Date: December 16, 2020 Re: Through the Fiscal Fog: Large Deficits and Debt as Far as the Eye Can See I recently set out four wildly differing federal fiscal scenarios for the future. Recent Government of Canada announcements lift the fog enough […] Sources of Comfort and Chills: What We Can Learn from CPP Valuation Reports
Uncertainties Loom for Canada Pension Plan Uncertainties lie ahead for the Canada Pension Plan that could lead to higher contribution rates or lower benefits. Author Bob Baldwin looks at Canada Pension Plan (CPP) valuation reports and explores the financial sustainability of the CPP under various risk scenarios. “I have deep-seated concerns that the risks involved […] Uncertainties Loom For Canada Pension Plan
Uncertainties lie ahead for the Canada Pension Plan that could lead to higher contribution rates or lower benefits, says a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Sources of Comfort and Chills: What We Can Learn from CPP Valuation Reports,” author Bob Baldwin…2021 trade priorities: Make CUSMA work and fix the WTO – Financial Post Op-Ed
Even with a new team in the White House in 2021 and a return to a healthy and respectful bilateral relationship, trade differences with our American friends will not disappear. And in addition to some tough Canada-U.S. files, there are other trade issues confronting the Canadian government, notably in respect of China, but including at the World Trade Organization, as well. All of this will require careful handling as we enter the new year.
Maintaining and improving trade relations with the U.S. will always be our top priority. Even with the Democrats in office and CUSMA a done deal, there will be trade irritants. And the Americans will always be tough and demanding. CUSMA created a Free Trade Commission that charges the…
S2 E22: 2020 – The Year of Unprecedented Times
2020 will be known as “the year of unprecedented times.” As COVID-19 vaccine injections begin, we look back at how Canada handled the pandemic – what we did right and what we did wrong – with crisis communications expert David Herle of The Gandalf Group, and the C.D. Howe Institute’s CEO Bill Robson. Von Finckenstein, Mitchell – There Is A Better Way To Amend Framework Laws
From: Konrad von Finckenstein and James Mitchell To: Navdeep Bains, Minister of of Innovation, Science and Industry Date: December 11, 2020 Re: There is a Better Way to Amend Framework Laws The government recently introduced Bill C-11, An Act to enact the Consumer Privacy Protection Act and the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act. This Bill replaces […] To beat money laundering, check ID – Financial Post Op-Ed
On Nov. 30, the B.C. government launched the world’s first publicly accessible registry of beneficial ownership of land, requiring disclosure of the people behind the companies, trusts and partnerships that own B.C. property (and who therefore benefit from such ownership). For implementing this new weapon to combat money laundering, the B.C. government deserves praise and thanks.
Unfortunately, in its present condition, the registry will do little to deter the world’s criminals from laundering their dirty money in B.C. real estate. That’s because it’s missing the most important element — verification of the identity of the beneficial owners listed on the registry. To understand why “verification of identity” is essential to the…