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1. Withstand the trade war by trading more

   Canada and the United States are in a trade war. The ongoing drama of NAFTA negotiations, and the possibility that the current trade arrangements, may not continue raises an important question. What is the Trudeau government’s Plan B? ...

2. Ottawa using bounty of robust growth to simply boost spending

   The recently-released 2018 federal budget calls for growth in both spending and revenues. Between 2017-18 and 2022-23, total revenues are forecast to grow from $309.6 billion to $373.9 billion—an increase of 21 per cent. After a three ...

3. Ottawa should uphold the Constitution and create a true economic union

   While we have just celebrated the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the Canadian economic union is still nowhere near what was originally envisioned by the founders of the Canadian federation. Among the objectives of Confederation were ...

4. The key fiscal lesson of Canada’s first 150 years—spend prudently

   As 2017 draws to a close, Canadians can reflect not only on the outcomes of the last year, but in this milestone 150th year of the federation, also where we are headed. What shall Canada’s economic achievements be as the next 50 years ...

5. An 1854 treaty and the lessons for NAFTA

   With the ongoing NAFTA negotiations and the possibility that the United States is going to leave NAFTA and usher in a new protectionist era for North American trade, it may be instructive to visit the past for some guidance. Canada’s ...

6. Tax hatred? No, tax awareness and tax reform

   Among the modern criteria for a good tax system are the principles of efficiency and equity. But another important principle is also awareness—that is, taxpayers should be aware of the taxes the pay and the benefits they receive from ...

7. In search of new revenue, Ottawa seems to be changing the tax system

   Here’s some interesting information from the 2017 edition of the Federal Fiscal Reference Tables. Total federal tax revenues in 2016-17 were $244.3 billion—up 0.7 per cent from the previous fiscal year. When the tax revenue is broken-up, ...

8. Major changes to Canada’s federal personal income tax—1917-2017

   As a result of the funding demands of the First World War, Canada’s federal government introduced both a personal and corporate income tax in 1917. The advent of the personal income tax in particular marked a significant shift in federal ...

9. Federal Budget 2017—Ottawa should learn from Canada's last road to debt

   The November 2016 federal economic update projected persistent deficits from 2015-16 to 2021-22. Shortly after, the Department of Finance released projections, which saw federal deficits persisting until the middle of the 21st century. ...

10. Two federal budgets, one problem—spending

    It’s federal budget season in Canada and the United States, with a common feature—fiscal planning driven by aspirations. Both federal governments plan major expenditure increases designed to promote objectives that, in the end, will ...