Government Spending

Stress Testing the Federal Fiscal Anchor

— Mar 16, 2023

Stress Testing the Federal Fiscal Anchor finds that that there is a 30 per cent chance that the federal debt to GDP ratio will increase over a 10-year time period, meaning the federal government would fail to achieve its core fiscal goal.

The Cost of Business Subsidies in Canada

— Mar 14, 2023

The Cost of Business Subsides in Canada finds that from 2007 to 2019 (the latest year of available pre-COVID data), federal, provincial and local governments spent more than $350 billion on business subsidies—also known as corporate welfare.

Prime Ministers and Government Spending: 2023 Edition

— Mar 9, 2023

Prime Ministers and Government Spending:2023 Edition is a new study that finds federal spending reached $19,208 per-person in 2020-21, which represents the single highest level in the country’s history, with the current federal government is on track to record the five highest levels of per-person spending (2018 to 2022) in Canadian history.

Ontario Premiers and Provincial Government Spending

— Feb 28, 2023

Ontario Premiers and Provincial Government Spending is a new study that reviews annual per-person program spending (inflation-adjusted) by Ontario premiers from 1965 to 2021, and finds that the highest single year of per-person spending on record was under Premier Doug Ford in 2020.

Saskatchewan Premiers and Provincial Government Spending

— Feb 28, 2023

Saskatchewan Premiers and Provincial Government Spending is a new study that reviews annual per-person program spending (inflation-adjusted) by Saskatchewan premiers from 1965 to 2021, and finds that the highest single year of per-person spending on record was under Premier Scott Moe in 2021, even excluding COVID-related spending.

Aging, Capital Investment, and Standards of Living

— Feb 24, 2023

Aging, Capital Investment, and Standards of Living finds that if policymakers want to offset the effects of Canada’s aging population and subsequent decline in labour market growth, they must make the country more attractive to business investment.

Recent Government Spending Commentaries and Blog Posts

Prime minister’s threat to grocery chains won’t solve food price problem

Jason Clemens, Milagros Palacios

Appeared in the Financial Post, September 21, 2023

A serious approach to food inflation would focus on reducing costs to producers and encouraging greater supply.

Government spending doesn’t buy happiness

Matthew Lau

Appeared in the Toronto Sun, September 6, 2023

Ottawa's child-care program simply shifted the form of care away from parents’ preference and towards the government-subsidized option.

Ottawa and Washington wasted many billions during COVID

Jake Fuss, Tegan Hill

Appeared in True North, Aug. 27, 2023

Overpayment recipients included 1,522 prisoners, 391 dead people and 434 children too young to be eligible.

Governments across Canada are spending us into economic misery

Matthew Lau

Appeared in the Financial Post, August 5, 2023

Business investment declined by 20 per cent in Canada from 2014 to 2021.

No, you won’t tame inflation with more government spending

Philip Cross

Appeared in the Financial Post, July 18, 2023

We’ve seen a steady erosion of per-capita GDP growth and persistent government deficits.

Liberals, Tories and NDP—they all love corporate welfare

Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Globe and Mail, July 8, 2023

In this year’s federal budget, the government earmarked $80 billion in corporate handouts to select industries.

Canada can’t meet NATO spending target without serious fiscal consequences

Jake Fuss

Appeared in the Toronto Sun, July 5, 2023

After recording eight consecutive budget deficits, the Trudeau government plans to run at least five more.

Taxpayers on the hook for more than $110 billion due to Ottawa’s COVID waste

Tegan Hill, Jake Fuss

Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, June 28, 2023

A significant portion of federal spending was mismanaged, poorly targeted, wasteful or simply excessive.

Provinces accept federal money at their peril

Tegan Hill, Milagros Palacios

Appeared in the Toronto Sun, June 7, 2023

Rising interest rates will put additional pressure on federal finances.

The ‘corporate welfare bums’ are back in business

Tegan Hill, Matthew D. Mitchell

Appeared in the Ottawa Citizen, May 31, 2023

The Volkswagen handout prompted automaker Stellantis to halt construction of an electric vehicle battery factory.