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1. Surprise—Alberta’s government debt burden is approaching Quebec’s

   The recent provincial budgets released by the Quebec and Alberta governments are a study in contrasts of government debt. On one hand, Quebec has a high-debt government that’s aiming to reduce its debt burden. On the other hand, Alberta ...

2. 2018 budget—another nail in the coffin of Trudeau’s balanced budget promise

   While campaigning for the 2015 election, then-candidate Justin Trudeau made a commitment to Canadians, pledging three years of modest budget deficits of no more than $10 billion, with a balanced budget by the end of his first mandate in ...

3. Federal budget an opportunity for Ottawa to change big spending ways

   Since coming into office, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has markedly increased spending, contributing to larger-than-promised budget deficits with no end in sight. Next week’s federal budget is an opportunity to change ...

4. NDP must clarify how it will pay for deal with Greens

   Appeared in the Vancouver Sun, June 17, 2017 The power-sharing deal struck by the NDP and Green Party means British Columbians could soon see an NDP minority government propped up by Green Party support. But if NDP Leader John Horgan becomes premier, the ...

5. Defence spending in Canada—a look at the data

   Recently in Brussels, U.S. President Donald Trump chastised several NATO members—including Canada—for not meeting their commitment to spend 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on national defence. Canada is among the 23 of 28 ...

6. Budget taxes Newfoundlanders without meaningfully addressing government spending

   “Quite frankly, they increased spending beyond what our province can afford.” So said Cathy Bennett, Newfoundland & Labrador finance minister, in her recent budget speech, referring to the record of previous governments. Indeed, ...

7. Growing government debt could endanger future prosperity in Canada

   Appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press January 16, 2016 In the coming months, the federal and provincial governments will release their annual budgets, unveiling their future tax and spending plans. Hopefully they use this opportunity to address a recent ...

8. Spending cuts, not tax hikes, best way to tackle deficits

   More than six years after the recession of 2008-09, eight out of 10 provinces (including Alberta, which released its budget yesterday) are currently in deficit, and the newly formed federal government has committed to falling back into deficit. ...

9. A $243,000 bill courtesy of Canada's governments

   Appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press and Vancouver Sun Imagine receiving a credit card bill that totaled $243,476. This would no doubt be a shock for most Canadians. But if you add up all the liabilities of every Canadian government "federal, ...