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1. Interest Cost Risks to Government Budgets

   This essay calculates the change in government interest costs and budget balances if interest costs return to their 2019-20 levels. Estimates are calculated for 2021-22 gross debt levels for each of the provinces and the federal government. ...

2. Trudeau government fuels economic uncertainty

   The prime minister’s mandate letter raised the idea of taxing "extreme wealth inequality.” ...

3. Trudeau government shows no interest in properly targeting assistance—despite deficits

   Appeared in National Newswatch, December 3, 2020 Since its election, the Trudeau government has consistently demonstrated its disinterest in targeting spending to those in need and limiting debt accumulation. Despite expected deficits of $381.6 billion ...

4. Trudeau government’s approach to federal finances anything but ‘prudent’

   Appeared in the National Newswatch, December 2, 2020 Since coming to power in 2015, Prime Minister Trudeau —and his finance ministers —have characterized their management of federal finances as “prudent,” an adjective meaning to act with or show care and ...

5. Trudeau government continues to dodge democratic accountability

   This government has not released a long-term forecast of spending, taxation and borrowing since 2018. ...

6. Trudeau government should heed looming risks to federal finances

   Appeared in the Globe and Mail, October 23, 2020 The federal government along with several prominent economists have downplayed the near-term risks to federal finances. Some have actually characterized Ottawa’s financial position as basically “ sound.” ...

7. Spend first, ask questions later—not sustainable fiscal policy

   During the first six months of the pandemic, with the effects of the lockdown hitting the economy, government revenues collapsed. Spending increased to provide quick support and relief, producing a federal deficit that reached 15 per cent ...

8. Federal finances remain vulnerable to fluctuating interest rates

   Appeared in Calgary's Business, August 20, 2020 There’s been a lot of movement in Ottawa lately, including Bill Morneau’s resignation as federal finance minister, with Chrystia Freeland taking his place. Unfortunately, the Trudeau government’s recent ...

9. Any credible plan to fix federal finances must address pre-COVID spending

   Indigenous and Northern Affairs represented the largest share of federal program spending growth. ...

10. Trudeau government should provide fiscal projections to Canadians

    The CERB is now estimated to cost $61.1 billion compared to the original estimate of $40.6 billion. ...