S2 E13 – Breaking Down Internal Trade Barriers
COVID-19 has highlighted the need to break down interprovincial trade barriers. But how do we clean up the patchwork nature while protecting workers? Two influential economists tell host Michael Hainsworth what it would take to boost the economy during a pandemic. Stephen Williamson – Three Questions About Bank Of Canada Balance Sheet Expansion
From: Stephen Williamson To: Central bank watchers Date: August 11, 2020 Re: Three Questions about Bank of Canada Balance Sheet Expansion Given the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic, the Bank of Canada has implemented some unconventional policies, with the goal of mitigating the economic effects of COVID-19 and the associated economic constraints. First, the […] A Wealth Tax Won’t Work To Fix The Coming Debt Crisis: We Need A Consumption Tax Like The Gst – Globe And Mail Op-ed
The federal fiscal snapshot in July projects a pandemic-induced deficit of $343-billion in 2020-21 and a debt-to-GDP ratio jumping to 49 per cent from 30 per cent. Don’t forget provincial debt, too. An Ontarian’s combined government debt-to-GDP ratio will push toward 100 per cent of GDP and beyond.
Such a high debt burden is an ailment that will become threatening when the economy returns to normal operations and interest rates rise. Just as we have done with the COVID-19 pandemic, we should address this ailment head-on. Fortunately, there is an evidence-based treatment plan.
The least painful treatment is to rely on economic growth to reduce our debt burden. However, it is risky to rely on growth alone when interest rates…
Richards, Mahboubi – Canada Has Three Other Education Problems In Addition To Teaching During The Pandemic
From: John Richards and Parisa Mahboubi To: Provincial Ministers of Education Date: August 10, 2020 Re: Canada Has Three Other Education Problems in Addition to Teaching During the Pandemic Once provincial governments, parents, and teachers decide how best to teach kids during the pandemic, here are three other problems to tackle. Although Canada continues to rank among the […] David Johnson – Teaching With Covid Restrictions In Elementary Schools: What Can Be Done?
From: David Johnson To: Canadians concerned about school re-openings Date: August 7, 2020 Re: Teaching with COVID Restrictions in Elementary Schools: What Can Be Done? Last week, the Ontario government announced a plan to reopen elementary schools. Its plan requires very little additional spending, operates within the existing school day and space, operates exactly within existing collective agreements and, […] Miles Wu – Lessons From Abroad
From: Miles Wu To: Canadian policymakers Date: August 6, 2020 Re: Lessons from Abroad China’s second quarter economic report – GDP up 3.2 percent year over year, reversing the 6.8 percent first quarter drop – was watched closely around the world, as it offered early glimpses of post-COVID economic recovery. Unpacking the numbers yields some […] Paul R. Masson Re-appointed As C.D. Howe Institute Research Fellow
William Robson, CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, announces the re-appointment of Paul R. Masson as a Research Fellow. “Paul has a terrific track record of applying economic insights to a wide range of policy…Blake Shaffer Re-appointed As C.D. Howe Institute Fellow-in-residence
William Robson, CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, announces the re-appointment of Blake Shaffer as a Fellow-in-Residence. “Blake’s combination of analytical expertise and practical experience makes him an…Jon Johnson – Buy American And Economic Relations With Canada
From: Jon Johnson To: Joe Biden Date: August 5, 2020 Re: Buy American and economic relations with Canada Your website makes Buy American promises such as investing $400 billion in your first term in additional federal purchases of products made by American workers. You also promise to “work with allies to modernize international trade rules […] Knubley, Hunter – Three Principles For Tougher Foreign Takeover Reviews
From: John Knubley and Lawson Hunter To: Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Date: August 4, 2020 Re: Three Principles for Tougher Foreign Takeover Reviews A parliamentary committee is examining recent changes to the administration of the Investment Canada Act, the federal regime for reviewing foreign acquisitions of Canadian businesses. The pandemic-inspired changes include “enhanced scrutiny” of […] Student Performance in PISA 2018: Nettlesome Questions for Canada
Schools Face Three Nettlesome Challenges Beyond COVID Author John Richards looks at data from OECD’s Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and finds declining scores in core subjects and wide gaps in achievement between advantaged and disadvantaged students. The OECD’s PISA has become a universally respected means to assess student outcomes in reading, mathematics, and […]