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1. 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, ...

2. Despite relatively robust economy, Manitoba in deficit since 2009

   Manitoba’s newly-elected government faces some important fiscal challenges. Despite a provincial economy that has been performing relatively well given its diversified economic base, there has developed a persistent gap between ...

3. Chronic spending-driven deficits eroding Alberta’s financial position

   Not so long ago, the Government of Alberta’s financial position was strong. In 2007/08 the province had net financial assets (the difference between financial assets and liabilities) amounting to $35 billion. In other words, the ...

4. Why is Canada’s federal government running a deficit?

   Canada’s federal government has embarked on a path of substantial deficit financing with no concrete target laid out of when the budget might be expected to balance. The deficit will be $5.4 billion in 2015-16, $29.4 billion in 2016-17, ...

5. The new normal in Canada—deficits without end

   Appeared in the National Post, April 4, 2016 Alberta’s Finance Minister Joe Ceci, set to deliver his budget April 14, recently said he does not know when the province will eliminate its annual operating deficit, rumoured to be $10.4 billion this coming ...

6. Why did the planned surplus in 2015/16 turn to deficit? Higher federal spending

   With much of the focus on last week’s federal budget being on the $29.4 billion deficit expected in 2016/17, an important takeaway that largely flew under the media radar is what caused the surplus that the former government had planned ...

7. Liberal spending increases drive big deficits, not a weak economy

   Appeared in the Financial Post, March 29, 2016 In advance of tabling their first budget, the Liberals conveyed a message that deteriorating government finances were the result of a weak economy. The reality of the budget is quite different from the ...

8. Budget 2016—spending is driving the deficits

   Leading up to their first budget, the Liberals argued that deteriorating economic conditions would require the government to run much larger deficits than had been promised. And the budget did indeed produce bigger deficits. But ...

9. Troubled waters—Ontario’s challenges pose challenges for Canada

   Canada needs a strong Ontario. With approximately 40 per cent of the country’s population and economic output residing in the Heartland province, it is imperative that Ontario be an economic and fiscal leader within confederation. ...

10. Why waste a budget? Trudeau should learn from Chretien and Martin

    Appeared in National Newswatch, March 18, 2016 As Prime Minister Trudeau delivers his first budget next week, one that reportedly contains a deficit in excess of $30 billion, his government may want to consider the lessons learned by former Prime Minister ...