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1. Ford fiscal strategy resembles McGuinty/Wynne plans—with predictable results

   By fiscal year 2023/24, Ontario's provincial net debt will eclipse $503 billion. ...

2. Ford government must dramatically change course to fulfill many promises

   High spending levels increase government debt, which raises the spectre of future higher taxes and creates uncertainty for potential investors. ...

3. Ford government must plot path to budget balance

   Appeared in National Newswatch, February 18, 2021 The Ford government released Ontario’s 2020/21 third quarter fiscal update last week. As expected, the numbers were ugly. The Department of Finance now anticipates a $38.5 billion budget deficit for this ...

4. Ontario’s new finance minister must recognize the importance of budget balance

   Appeared in National Newswatch, January 14, 2021 With the resignation of Rod Phillips, Ontario’s incoming finance minister Peter Bethlenfalvy inherits a difficult job. The province’s fiscal challenges long pre-date the global pandemic. Queen’s Park has ...

5. Ford’s deficit-reduction plan reminiscent of Rae, McGuinty, Wynne years

   Appeared in the Toronto Sun, November 5, 2020 On Thursday, the Ford government tabled its budget for the 2020/21 fiscal year, revealing plans to run some of the largest deficits in Ontario history—not just this year, but in years to come. For fiscal year ...

6. Ford government’s budget update overly optimistic and likely ineffective

   Appeared in National Newswatch, April 2, 2020 With all the announcements last week by the federal government, and the drama surrounding the passage of the federal spending bill on Wednesday, last week’s Ontario financial and budget update went largely ...

7. Ford government should exercise prudence in these volatile times

   Appeared in the Toronto Sun, March 19, 2020 As uncertainty swirls, the Ford government, which next week will release a fiscal update—instead of a planned complete 2020 budget—should remember that prudence is the best shield to protect government finances. ...

8. Ford government’s upcoming second budget should include real fiscal reform

   Appeared in the Toronto Sun, January 15, 2020 It’s no secret that Ontario faces a large debt problem. At $24,000 per Ontarian and climbing, Ontario’s in a deep hole. That, combined with the absence of plan to meaningfully reduce the province’s debt burden ...

9. Controlling government wages crucial to Ford’s deficit-reduction plan

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, December 11, 2019 It’s no secret that Ontario faces challenges with its annual operating budget deficit and growing government debt. Last year, the deficit clocked in at $7.4 billion. Another deficit is forecasted for 2019/20, ...

10. Premier Ford should look west for deficit-reduction strategy

    Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, October 30, 2019 Last week, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s government tabled its first budget, which was also likely Alberta’s most consequential budget in 25 years. Indeed, with its first budget, the Kenney government promised ...