S2 E18: Donald Trump Has Won, Now What?
With the U.S. Presidential election right around the corner, what would Donald Trump’s re-election mean for Canada? Michael Hainsworth put that to the Wilson Centre’s Christopher Sands and former PMO communications director Scott Reid, and learned how we might navigate four more years of a Trump presidency. S2 E17: Joe Biden Has Won, Now What?
With the U.S. Presidential election right around the corner, what would a Joe Biden win mean for Canada? Michael Hainsworth sits down with the Wilson Centre’s Christopher Sands and former PMO communications director Scott Reid, to find out if a Biden victory will smooth over some of the cracks in the US-Canada relationship. William B.P. Robson – Ottawa’s Spending Won’t Stay Cheap
From: William B.P. Robson To: Enthusiasts for, and skeptics about, federal government spending Date: October 26, 2020 Re: Ottawa’s spending won’t stay cheap Looked at one way, the federal government’s recent musings about spending tens – even hundreds – of billions more dollars on a raft of new programs seem weird. Nobody thought we could afford such a […] Åke Blomqvist – The Cambie Case And Efficient Healthcare
From: Åke Blomqvist To: Canada’s Ministers of Health Date: October 23, 2020 Re: The Cambie Case and Efficient Healthcare Privately funded healthcare was back in the news this fall as a BC Supreme Court judge ruled against Dr. Brian Day’s challenge of the province’s Medicare Protection Act. The case has had the unfortunate consequence of focusing the public debate on […] Bank of Canada Should Keep Overnight Rate at 0.25 Percent and Maintain Government Bond Purchases: C.D. Howe Institute Monetary Policy Council
October 22, 2020 – The C.D. Howe Institute’s Monetary Policy Council (MPC) recommends that the Bank of Canada keep its target for the overnight rate, its benchmark policy interest rate, at 0.25 percent at least until October of 2021. A majority of MPC members recommended that the Bank of Canada continue its quantitative easing program of Government of Canada bond purchases.
The MPC provides an independent assessment of the monetary stance consistent with the Bank of Canada’s 2 percent inflation target. William Robson, the Institute’s CEO, chairs the Council. The Council’s principal recommendations are about the overnight rate target. Members make recommendations for the Bank of Canada’s upcoming interest-rate…
Schwanen, Wyonch – What’s The Covid-19 Plan?
From: Daniel Schwanen and Rosalie Wyonch To: Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott Date: October 22, 2020 Subject: What’s the COVID-19 plan? The resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Ontario since mid-August has so far not been as severe as in other jurisdictions that have recently imposed sweeping restrictive measures to control their second […] Parisa Mahboubi – Let’s Modernize To Protect Canada’s Growing Gig Economy
From: Parisa Mahboubi To: Canadian Ministers of Employment and Labour Date: October 21, 2020 Re: Let’s modernize to protect Canada’s growing gig economy The so-called gig economy and platform work have been growing globally and in Canada ever since the 2008-09 recession, driven by technological and economic changes and the desire for greater flexibility by workers and employers. […] Barbara Zvan Appointed As C.D. Howe Institute Senior Fellow
William Robson, President and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, announces the appointment of Barbara Zvan as a Senior Fellow. “Barb has already made major contributions to the C.D. Howe Institute’s work…Wendy Dobson Re-appointed As C.D. Howe Institute Research Fellow
William Robson, CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, announces the re-appointment of Wendy Dobson as a Research Fellow. “Wendy’s contributions to the C.D. Howe Institute have been enormous, with her term as its…Canada’s Foggy Economic and Fiscal Future
Canada in ‘Economic and Fiscal Fog,’ Needs Real Debate on Future Path Canada needs a national debate over its economic and fiscal future, according to Don Drummond, former chief economist for TD Bank. Drummond lays out four scenarios for Canada’s fiscal future, each targeting a deficit and debt track into the 2030s, and calls for […] William Robson: Government Spending Looks Cheap Today — But That Won’t Last – Financial Post Op-ed
Looked at one way, the federal government’s recent musings about spending tens — even hundreds — of billions more dollars on a raft of new programs seem weird. Nobody thought we could afford such a binge before COVID hammered our economy. How is it a great idea afterward?
Look at it another way, however, and the magical thinking in Ottawa is easier to understand. The crisis pushed the federal government’s revenues down and its spending up. Directionally, that is fine. But a mind-boggling two-thirds hike in program expenses this year has driven the apparent tax cost of a dollar of program spending through the floor. Federal largesse has never looked cheaper.
How cheap? July’s fiscal snapshot suggested Ottawa’s revenue,…
Schirle, Skuterud – Long-term Joblessness: A Significant Policy Challenge On The Horizon?
From: Tammy Schirle and Mikal Skuterud To: Canadians Concerned about the Labour Market Date: October 20, 2020 Re: Long-term joblessness: a significant policy challenge on the horizon? Between March and September 2020, the number of Canadians who have been jobless for more than six months increased by 107 percent, far exceeding the peak increase of 37 percent over […]