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1. 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. ...

2. Ford government should heed Michigan's success

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, April 3, 2019 Whenever a new government is elected, as happened in Ontario last year, one of the most important questions is whether it will maintain the policy trajectory of its predecessor or instead chart a different policy ...

3. Big deficits or slash-and-burn—the Ford government’s false choice

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, November 28, 2018 The Toronto Sun recently published a letter to the editor from Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fedeli (pictured above) objecting to my last column —specifically, my assertion that the government’s mini-budget ...

4. On spending and deficits—if nothing changes, nothing changes

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, November 21, 2018 Last week, Finance Minister Vic Fedeli tabled Ontario’s Fall Economic Statement. This “mini-budget” was an opportunity for the Ford government to get serious about putting provincial finances on more ...

5. Dear Premier Ford, please look forward—not back

   Appeared in Maclean's, September 26, 2018 This week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford created a committee to investigate the previous Liberal government’s handling of provincial finances including its accounting methods. Premier Ford compared Liberal ...

6. The Wynne budget—more spending, more fiscal problems, more debt

   Appeared in the Toronto Sun, March 29, 2018 Finance Minister Charles Sousa has tabled Ontario’s 2018 budget. And above all else, the pre-election document is characterized by a complete absence of fiscal discipline and dangerous willingness to saddle ...

7. Ontario’s fiscal paradox—a balanced budget and mounting debt

   Ontario has wrapped up its 2018 pre-budget public consultations as it prepares to deliver its next provincial budget. Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa confirmed in the fall fiscal statement that Ontario’s 2018 budget will be ...

8. Wynne government places big bet on revenue growth

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, August 23, 2017 This year, Ontario’s operating budget is balanced for the first time in a decade. Of course, Ontario remains heavily indebted and is adding billions of dollars in new debt every year from capital spending that ...

9. Wynne government could take a few pointers from Liberal brethren in Quebec

   Appeared in the Toronto Sun, August 13, 2017 Ontarians usually don’t follow closely the economic developments of their eastern neighbour but they certainly should. In fact, Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government could take a few pointers from their Liberal ...

10. Wynne government reopens spending tap, exposes province to more risk

    Appeared in the Financial Post, May 10, 2017 The Wynne government recently tabled Ontario’s first balanced operating budget in a decade. While it’s good to see the province finally bring its annual operating expenditures in line with revenues, there are ...