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1. At least 1.8 million Ontarians will pay more in income taxes

   Ontario’s recent budget is jammed packed with new policies ahead of the upcoming provincial election. But what’s missing is any sign that the government wants to improve its uncompetitive personal income tax (PIT) system. In fact, the ...

2. Ontario budget ignores past promises, offers no plan to enhance economic competitiveness

   Predictably, many of the headlines on Ontario’s 2018 budget, released today, focus on Premier Kathleen Wynne’s so-called “free” child care plan and other big-spending items. It is, after all, a big-spending budget. But crucially, the ...

3. If Premier Wynne wants to boost low-wage worker pay, she should cut Ontario’s corporate tax rate

   The flaws in Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s plan to raise the pay of low-wage workers are quickly becoming apparent. On Jan. 1, the Wynne government increased Ontario’s minimum wage sharply by 21 per cent and it immediately backfired ...

4. Rather than name-calling, Premier Wynne should take responsibility for her government’s minimum wage policy

   Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne recently accused Tim Hortons franchise owners of being bullies for reducing employee benefits in response to the province’s sharp minimum wage hike. This sentiment is echoed by others who have called for a ...

5. Want more automation? Then raise the minimum wage

   These days the phrase “rise of the machines” has taken on a new poignancy for some Canadians. Governments across Canada are giving low-skilled workers reason to worry their jobs will be replaced by machines—thanks to plans to hike the ...

6. Ontario debt—kicking the can down the road

   A new study released this today by the Fraser Institute examined the Wynne government’s plan to reduce Ontario’s debt burden to pre-recession levels (26-27 per cent) by 2029/30 from its current level of 37.5 per cent. The government’s ...

7. The case for federal personal income tax reform in Canada

   On the 100th anniversary of Canada’s federal personal income tax (PIT), the federal government would be wise to consider reforming personal income taxes by eliminating several “tax expenditures” (tax credits, deductions and other special ...

8. The evidence mounts—minimum wage hikes reduce job opportunities for vulnerable workers

   Many Canadian provinces have expressed a desire to hike their minimum wage to $15 per hour. Alberta has begun the process with incremental increases, Ontario has formally introduced a plan, and B.C.’s new government has mused about the ...

9. Ontario’s planned $15 minimum wage will likely hurt young and low-skilled workers

   Ontario’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs is currently touring the province to get feedback on Bill 148, which proposes various amendments to the Employment Standards Act including, among other labour policy changes, a ...

10. Seattle’s higher minimum wage has lowered earnings for low-wage workers

    The Wynne government in Ontario recently followed Alberta’s lead, announcing a plan to move to a $15 minimum wage. British Columbia is also debating a $15 minimum wage, and the idea will no doubt continue to be hotly debated in Canada ...