There are better, cheaper ways to get Canadians the medications they need – Financial Post Op-Ed
The final report of the federal Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare, which was chaired by former Ontario health minister Eric Hoskins, recommends a universal pharmacare program with Ottawa covering all incremental costs. We offer a second opinion. There are better, cheaper ways to achieve the same goal.
The council’s proposal would begin by covering 136 essential medicines as of 2022. As many observers have repeatedly warned, a one-size national program would not mesh well with existing provincial drug programs, nor with the provincially managed and funded doctor and hospital services that run alongside them. Because provincial tax-funded drug programs have varying levels of coverage and costs, the…
William B.P. Robson – Toronto’s Property Tax Hike – Because A $1.4 Billion Surplus Isn’t Big Enough?
From: William B.P. Robson To: Toronto taxpayers Date: January 10, 2020 Re: Toronto’s property tax hike – because a $1.4 billion surplus isn’t big enough? Late last year, Toronto City Council approved an extraordinary property tax hike – an additional 1.0 percent in 2020 and 2021 on top of a previously approved 0.5-percent increase, and a full 1.5 […] A Work in Progress: Measuring Wage Gaps for Women and Minorities in the Canadian Labour Market
January 9, 2020 – Wage gaps between men and women and white, Indigenous, and visible minority groups persist, despite a wide range of federal and provincial legislation intended to close them, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “A Work in Progress: Measuring Wage Gaps for Women and Minorities in the […] Wage Gaps Based On Gender, Race An Enduring Problem
Wage gaps between men and women and white, Indigenous, and visible minority groups persist, despite a wide range of federal and provincial legislation intended to close them, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “A Work in Progress: Measuring Wage…Jon Johnson – Cusma Auto Rules Of Origin, The Protocol And Us Implementing Legislation – Part Two
From: Jon Johnson To: Global Affairs and the Canadian Automotive Industry Date: January 9, 2020 Re: CUSMA Auto Rules of Origin, the Protocol and US Implementing Legislation – Part Two The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act, the US legislation that will implement CUSMA, sets out extensive provisions respecting the administration of the trade agreement’s rules of origin (ROOs). The […] Jon Johnson – Cusma Auto Rules Of Origin, The Protocol And Us Implementing Legislation – Part One
From: Jon Johnson To: Global Affairs and the Canadian Automotive Industry Date: January 8, 2020 Re: CUSMA Auto Rules of Origin, the Protocol and US Implementing Legislation – Part One CUSMA took two major steps forward in December. First, Canadian, US and Mexican representatives signed a Protocol of Amendment to CUSMA incorporating changes negotiated to secure […] William B.P. Robson – A Professional Nag Pauses To Reflect
From: William B.P. Robson To: Fellow Canadians Date: January 7, 2020 Re: A Professional Nag Pauses to Reflect We at the C.D. Howe Institute devote much of our daily attention to criticizing poorly conceived and ineptly implemented policy in Canada. As we should. That’s our job. And our governments keep us all too well supplied. When William Watson asked […] Ron Mock Appointed As C.D. Howe Institute Senior Fellow
William Robson, President and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, announces the appointment of Ron Mock as a Senior Fellow. “Ron has had an extraordinary career, culminating in his leadership of one of Canada’s…Glen Hodgson – Five Key Issues for 2020
From: Glen Hodgson To: Canadians Concerned about 2020 Date: January 6, 2020 Re: Five Key Issues for 2020 Global growth is being deeply affected by the trade turmoil fomented by Donald Trump and uncertainty abounds, with slower growth in many places and plenty of policy risk. Here are five key issues to watch in 2020. […]S1 E18 – Mandate 2020
New year, new opportunity. 2020 will be the Federal Government’s first real opportunity to build on the platforms of the October 2019 election. Queen’s University adjunct professor Don Drummond and the Institute’s Ben Dachis look ahead to the first full year of governing the new minority government. A Professional Critic’s Festive Fulmination – Financial Post Op-ed
My colleagues and I at the C.D. Howe Institute devote much of our daily attention to criticizing poorly conceived and ineptly implemented policy in Canada. As we should. That’s our job. And our governments keep us all too well supplied.
On occasion, however, people outside Canada ask us about how Canada ranks as a place to live, work, invest, or locate a business. For me, those questions trigger a happy 180-degree turn. The professional nag steps back and the booster of Canada as one of the world’s most favoured nations takes over. As we welcome 2020 with some thoughts about things we in Canada do well, and should keep doing well, here are three ways we stand out.
First on my list — first on so many people’s lists — is…
Seriously Toronto, Another Tax Hike? A $1.4 Billion Surplus Isn’t Big Enough? – Financial Post Op-ed
Toronto city council has just approved an extra increase in property taxes — another 1.0 per cent in 2020 and 2021 on top of a previously approved 0.5 per cent hike, and a full 1.5 per cent for four years starting in 2022. Mayor John Tory, previously a staunch supporter of holding the line on property taxes, pushed it. The vote went 22-3 in favour — a convincing margin considering most politicians hate to vote for higher taxes. Even many conservative commentators praised the hike as necessary to support social services and better infrastructure. Which makes me wonder: how many on council, in the media, or the city at large know anything about Toronto’s fiscal numbers? Does anyone?
Here’s a test. What was the City of Toronto’s…