Ontario Prosperity

Ontario Government Perpetuates Poor Electricity Policy

— Aug 11, 2020

Ontario Government Perpetuates Poor Electricity Policy is a new study that examines the current Ontario government's inability to resolve the province’s long-running electricity problems. Crucially, government subsidies for electricity producers and consumers in Ontario makes it nearly impossible for Ontarians to determine the true costs of electricity since they are incurring costs both in their hydro bills and with their taxes.

The Revenue Effects of Rescinding Ontario's Tax Rate Hike on High-Income Earners

— Jul 14, 2020

The Revenue Effects of Rescinding Ontario’s Tax Rate Hike on High-income Earners finds that lowering the province’s top personal income tax rate from the current 20.53 per cent back to 17.41 per cent—where it was prior to a so-called “temporary” rate hike in 2012—would only cost the government $26 million in the first year in foregone tax revenues, thanks to increased economic activity. And lowering the province’s top personal income tax rate would significantly increase Ontario’s attractiveness for investment, entrepreneurs and high-skilled workers.

Interest Costs and their Growing Burden on Canadians

— Feb 19, 2020

Interest Costs and their Growing Burden on Canadians finds that in fiscal year 2019-20, Ottawa will spend more than $24 billion on federal debt interest payments, as the federal debt has increased by more than $260 billion since the 2008-09 recession. The study also compares government debt interest costs among provinces.

Uneven Recovery: Job Creation in Ontario’s Urban Centres between 2008 and 2018

— Feb 6, 2020

Uneven Recovery: Job Creation in Ontario’s Urban Centres between 2008 and 2018, which compares the job-creation numbers of various regions across Ontario, finds that 90.8 per cent of all net job-creation in the province since the 2008/09 recession occurred in the GTA and Ottawa.

The Growing Debt Burden for Canadians

— Jan 16, 2020

The Growing Debt Burden for Canadians finds that, since 2007/08, the year before the last recession, combined federal and provincial debt has grown from $837.0 billion to a projected $1.5 trillion in 2019/20. The study also breakdowns provincial debt burdens based on several different measures.

Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada: 2020 Edition

— Dec 12, 2019

Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2020 Edition finds that nominal spending on public schools across Canada has increased in every province in recent years. After adjusting for inflation and enrolment changes, per-student spending still increased in seven out of 10 provinces from 2012/13 to 2016/17, the most recent year of available Statistics Canada data.

Recent Ontario Prosperity Commentaries and Blog Posts

Understanding two decades of weak economic performance in Ontario

Ben Eisen

It’s important for policymakers to recognize the severity of Ontario’s growth problem, how long-lived it has been, and the challenge of weak business investment that could impede future growth.

Ontario’s economy—slow growth and weak business investment

Ben Eisen

Real per-person economic growth was 9.1 per cent in Ontario compared to 26.1 per cent in the rest of Canada.

Ontario independent schools deserve ‘safe return’ funds despite Ford government hostility

Derek J. Allison

Appeared in the Ottawa Citizen, August 7, 2021

In terms of independent school funding, Ontario is out of step with many provinces and European countries.

Ontario has fallen behind Michigan’s economy

Ben Eisen

At least 90 per cent of net job creation in Ontario took place either in the Greater Toronto Area or Ottawa.

Ford government ‘task force’ unnecessarily targets women

Matthew Lau

Appeared in the National Post, July 16, 2021

Ontario plans to spend $117.3 million on training programs for women and minorities.

Ontario government has made COVID economic pain even worse

Livio Di Matteo

The Greenbelt Act helped drive up residential housing prices in the Greater Toronto Area.

Ford should butt out of Ontario’s business

Matthew Lau

Appeared in the Toronto Star, July 5, 2021

The Ford government plans to invest $100 million of taxpayer money in technology companies.

Ontario consistently fails to reduce government debt after recessions

Ben Eisen

The province’s nominal debt will rise from $440 billion in 2021/22 to $504 billion in 2023/24.

Government debt interest costs will crowd out essential spending in Ontario

Livio Di Matteo

Ontario's debt interest costs will rise by 21 per cent.

Ontario lagging behind neighbours on key economic measures

Ben Eisen

Appeared in the Windsor Star, June 20, 2021

Between 2000 and 2019, New York's average per-person GDP growth more than doubled Ontario's growth rate.