Ontario Prosperity

Ontario Premiers and Provincial Government Spending, 2024

— Aug 1, 2024

Ontario Premiers and Provincial Government Spending, 2024 finds that despite political rhetoric while in opposition, the Ontario government of Premier Doug Ford has recorded two of the three highest per person spending levels since 1965, even excluding COVID-related one-time spending. In fact, Premier Ford’s highest per person spending levels ($12,227 in 2020 and $12,081 in 2021, excluding COVID spending) surpass former Premier Kathleen Wynne’s highest spending level: $11,101 in 2017.

Ontario’s Two Lost Economic Decades: 2002-2022

— May 9, 2024

Ontario's Two Lost Economic Decades: 2002-2022 finds that, from using several key indicators of Ontario’s economic performance from 2002-2022, minimal economic progress was made for Ontarians during this time—and the province lost ground relative to much of the country.

Canadian History Untold: Assessing the K–12 Curriculum Guides in British Columbia and Ontario

— Apr 25, 2024

Canadian History Untold: Assessing the K-12 Curriculum Guides in British Columbia and Ontario finds that the amount of Canadian history being taught to Ontario and BC students in K-12 is limited. In Ontario, what little Canadian history is taught doesn’t follow a logical, chronological order, and in BC’s case, it is overly-focussed on discriminatory events in Canada’s past.

Barriers to Housing Supply in Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area

— Feb 22, 2024

Barriers to Housing Supply in Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area finds that despite progress by various municipalities and the provincial government, significant impediments to homebuilding remain in Ontario.

Comparing Employment Income in Toronto and Selected American Metropolitan Areas

— Feb 15, 2024

Comparing Employment Income in Toronto and Selected American Metropolitan Areas is a new study that compares median employment income in Toronto and US metropolitan areas, and finds that the annual gap in employment income between Toronto and the lowest ranking large US metropolitan area, Miami, was $2,030 in 2019, while the difference between Toronto and the highest-ranking US metro, San Francisco, was $32,765.

Measuring Ontario’s Prosperity Gap at the Metropolitan Area Level

— Nov 28, 2023

Measuring Ontario’s Prosperity Gap at The Metropolitan Area Level is a new study that ranks employment incomes in the largest 107 metropolitan areas around the Great Lakes region for 2019. It finds that London (93rd) and Windsor (99th) are right near the bottom and are $10-12,000 less than median employment incomes in Detroit, Buffalo and Cleveland.

Recent Ontario Prosperity Commentaries and Blog Posts

Ontario government chooses deficits and debt—again

Ben Eisen

Appeared in the Financial Post, November 6, 2024

The government increased spending by $5 billion beyond its original budget plan.

Education in Ontario—it’s time for bold changes

Michael Zwaagstra

Appeared in the Epoch Times, November 4, 2024

Ontario parents should enjoy at least the same level of school choice as parents in Quebec and western Canada.

Ontario’s sluggish economy stifling living standards in the province

Jake Fuss, Grady Munro

Appeared in the Hamilton Spectator, November 2, 2024

The province's average business investment per worker was nearly $3,000 less than in B.C. and Manitoba.

Ontario government should walk the walk when encouraging economic growth

Jake Fuss, Grady Munro

High tax rates lower the incentive for individuals to work, save and invest.

Ontario’s mini-budget maintains high-tax approach despite ‘tax rebate’ head fake

Ben Eisen

The province's debt will reach $429 billion this year.

Taxpayers will pay for Ontario government’s $200 rebates

Matthew Lau

Appeared in the Toronto Star, October 30, 2024

The province's high tax rates contribute to slow productivity and economic growth.

Ontario government should stop the gimmicks and finally cut taxes

Ben Eisen, Jake Fuss

Appeared in the Globe and Mail, October 28, 2024

The top combined personal income tax rate in the province remains at 53.53 per cent.

Ontario government shovels out heaps of corporate welfare

Matthew Lau

The province's taxpayers gave $4.5 million to the manufacturer of Sour Patch Kids candy.

Federal regulations threaten Ontario’s ability to meet electricity demand

Kenneth P. Green

Appeared in the Toronto Sun, October 23, 2024

Electricity demand in the province will grow by a projected 75 per cent by 2050.

Ontario government falls woefully short of balanced budget promises

Ben Eisen

Appeared in the Toronto Star, October 4, 2024

The government’s net debt burden this year will reach a projected $408 billion.