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1. 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 ...

2. Minister McKenna wrong on Ontario’s coal phase-out

   Environment Minister Catherine McKenna (pictured above) recently reaffirmed the Trudeau government’s commitment to phase-out coal as a power source. In an interview with CBC News, McKenna once again credited the Ontario coal phase-out ...

3. Minimum wage hikes—negative effects may hit lower-wage regions of Ontario particularly hard

   Between now and 2019, Ontario will increase its minimum wage to $15 per hour. In total, this will be an increase of more than 30 per cent in less than a year-and-a-half. Canadian evidence consistently shows that higher minimum wages tend ...

4. Wynne government embarks on spending spree despite looming economic storm clouds

   Ontario’s economy is on a bit of a roll lately, with unemployment rates at the lowest they have been in some time and real GDP growing. While Canada’s real GDP was up 1.4 per cent in 2016, Ontario’s was up 2.6 per cent—the second-fastest ...

5. Upcoming minimum wage hikes threaten younger and less-skilled Ontarians

   In January, Ontario’s minimum wage will increase to $14 an hour, up from $11.60 today. In January 2019, the wage floor will increase by another dollar to $15 per hour. There are good reasons to worry that such a rapid increase in the ...

6. Ontario’s auditor general calls out Wynne government over ‘Fair Hydro Plan’ accounting

   The Office of the Auditor General of Ontario this week released a special report titled “The Fair Hydro Plan: Concerns About Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Value for Money.” It’s somewhat dry reading, but a key message comes ...

7. Ontario sued over power prices

   In a recent article in the National Post, reporter Geoff Zochodne discusses another interesting twist in the Ontario power-price saga. Zochodne explores the recent lawsuits filed against Ontario’s minister of the attorney general, ...

8. Quebec unemployment rate now lower than Ontario’s

   There’s a remarkable economic transformation underway in Quebec. The economy is growing and the unemployment rate is down. Indeed, Quebec’s unemployment rate (three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted) in July at 5.9 per cent is ...

9. Ontarians need real reforms that will actually reduce electricity prices

   Those smart thermostats won't be free—taxpayers will foot the bill. ...

10. 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 ...