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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. Debt interest payments fastest-growing component of Ontario budget

   The government has run budget deficits every year since 2008/09. ...

3. 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 ...

4. 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 ...

5. Premier Ford’s choice is clear—more government debt or real reform

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, August 15, 2020 On Wednesday, Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips released the province’s first quarter finances for the 2020/2021 fiscal year. The update is sobering to anybody concerned about Ontario’s well-being. The ...

6. Ford government must prepare for post-COVID spending cuts

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, May 5, 2020 Recently, RBC Economics published new estimates of this year’s deficits and debt accumulation for all 10 Canadian provinces. The news was predictably grim. According to forecasts, all provinces will run large ...

7. Say goodbye to Ontario’s ‘lost decade’ of debt and economic pain

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, December 18, 2019 The 2010s are drawing to a close. Unfortunately, it was a disastrous decade for the Ontario government’s financial health. It’s worth looking back at the damage to help us understand the importance of not ...

8. 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, ...

9. Ontario should learn from Quebec’s debt reduction

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, November 13, 2019 Ontario is in debt, big time. And the Ford government does not have a plan to meaningfully reduce that debt burden. In fact, compared to Quebec, a province which had a well-earned reputation for poor fiscal ...

10. Ford government remains Wynne-like with the deficit

    Appeared in the Toronto Sun, September 12, 2019 Last week, a special “Blue Ribbon” panel on Alberta’s finances published its final report, which includes a plan to balance Alberta’s budget and stop the province’s rapid debt accumulation. Among other ...