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1. Ontario’s $15 billion deficit underscores need for swift bold action

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, September 25, 2018 Last week the Ford government reported on the state of Ontario’s finances. Turns out, when proper accounting methods are applied and up-to-date economic projections used, Ontario’s deficit is larger than ...

2. Creating Policy Calling Cards to Attract Business to Ontario

   On the campaign trail and since taking office as Premier, Doug Ford has spoken often about the need to make Ontario an attractive business investment destination. Specifically, Mr. Ford has repeatedly talked about the need to declare the province " ...

3. Ontario's economic challenges go beyond the deficit

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, August 29, 2018 Since taking office, Premier Ford has emphasized the need to curb government spending. The premier has, for example, promised a line-by-line audit of spending. This is good news. A disciplined approach to ...

4. Cut the growth of growth commissions

   I hardly ever disagree with Jack Mintz, former president of the C. D. Howe Institute, former director of the University of Calgary School of Public Policy, and for the past decade or two the dean of Canadian policy economists. But I do ...

5. Ontario’s election—the real economic issues

   Ontario’s June 7 election may be a watershed moment as the new government will deal with an economy that, despite the recent improvement, still faces major challenges with employment and investment, given a housing boom is not a ...

6. Why many parts of Ontario feel left behind

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, April 11, 2018 In 2017 Ontario enjoyed one of its strongest recent years of overall economic growth. The Wynne government sent out rosy press releases celebrating the province’s success. But there were two big problems with the ...

7. Ontario PC leader could promote pro-growth agenda for First Nations

   A Toronto Star columnist recently lamented about the apparent lack of policies from Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford on Indigenous affairs. While Indigenous issues are federal responsibilities, the provincial government can do a lot to ...

8. The Wynne budget—more spending, more fiscal problems, more debt

   Appeared in the Toronto Sun, March 29, 2018 Finance Minister Charles Sousa has tabled Ontario’s 2018 budget. And above all else, the pre-election document is characterized by a complete absence of fiscal discipline and dangerous willingness to saddle ...

9. Ontario’s economic minister uses faulty analysis to attack facts and data

   Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, March 21, 2018 Last week, the Fraser Institute published a study (which I co-authored) documenting Ontario’s poor economic performance over the last decade. Between 2007 and 2016—across several economic indicators—we show that ...

10. Ontario’s Lost Decade: 2007–2016

    Between 2007 and 2016, Ontario was mired in a prolonged period of economic weakness during which it lost ground compared to the rest of the country on many important economic indicators. This bulletin examines the extent of Ontario’s economic ...