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1. Ford government faces critical decisions as budget day looms

   According to forecasts, Ontario's net government debt will approach $463 billion in 2022/23. ...

2. Ontario’s finances—back to the ’90s?

   During the early 1990s, the federal government and many provinces faced severe fiscal challenges so daunting that many described the situation as a crisis. As governments across the country run historically large deficits in response to ...

3. 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 ...

4. Ford’s former finance minister proffers sound advice for his successor

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, June 26, 2019 Last week, Premier Doug Ford announced a major cabinet shuffle in Ontario. Among the most important moves was the removal of Vic Fedeli (pictured above) as finance minister, to be replaced by Rod Phillips. ...

5. A visit from the ghost of Ontario’s fiscal future

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, December 19, 2019 In Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” Scrooge is memorably visited by the “ghost of Christmas future” who shows him a disturbing glimpse of things to come. Last week Ontario was visited by a ghost of the ...

6. Spending discipline key to Ontario's fiscal and economic success

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, August 22, 2018 Premier Doug Ford’s PC government faces many fiscal and economic challenges including Ontario’s huge debt load and high tax rates in key areas. The interest payments on the debt impose costs on taxpayers while ...

7. Restoring Ontario's Public Finances

   Ontario’s public finances have deteriorated over the last few decades as chronic deficits have led to mounting public debt. Nevertheless, the situation can be repaired—and relatively more quickly than might be imagined. Restoring Ontario’s Public Finances ...

8. Ford should get serious about Ontario's deficit

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, July 11, 2018 Ontario’s long string of operating deficits, and resulting run-up in government debt (projected to hit $325 billion this year) raises a $325 billion question: How will Premier Doug Ford’s new government tackle the ...

9. What can Doug Ford learn from Jean Chretien?

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, July 5, 2018 Recently, the credit rating agency Fitch lowered Ontario’s credit rating outlook. Specifically, while maintaining the provincial government’s “AA” rating, our outlook was changed from “stable” to “negative,” ...

10. Ontario’s net debt may hit $500 billion by 2026-27

    The size of Ontario’s provincial deficit has become a matter of some debate. The Wynne government’s 2018 budget projected a deficit of $6.7 billion. But according to a recent report from the auditor general, Ontario’s deficit may be even ...