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1. ‘Fair Deal’ panel right to consider Alberta withdrawal from CPP

   Appeared in the Calgary Sun, June 19, 2020 On Wednesday, Alberta’s “Fair Deal” panel released its report, which recommends that Alberta develop a plan to withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). Premier Kenney endorsed the recommendation, noting that ...

2. P.E.I. projects $172.7 million budget deficit, largest nominal deficit in province’s history

   The government of Prince Edward Island tabled its 2020 budget on June 17, amid a turbulent year for provincial finances in the wake of COVID-19. Highlights of the budget include increased government spending, a historic deficit and a ...

3. Kenney government postpones reforms despite COVID-related surgery backlog

   Appeared in the Edmonton Journal, June 18, 2020 Despite encouraging evidence from other jurisdictions, the Kenney government recently postponed its plan to expand the use of private medical clinics to perform publicly-funded surgeries. The plan mirrors a ...

4. P.E.I. deficit may be bigger than forecasts

   As the Prince Edward Island government prepares to table its operating budget in the coming weeks, policymakers find themselves in a much-changed fiscal environment. This time last year, the government tabled a budget that projected a ...

5. Alberta’s surgery backlog should prompt health-care reform in the province

   Despite their label, “elective” procedures are medically-necessary treatments ranging from life-saving cancer surgeries to hip replacements. In Alberta, the health-care system resumed elective surgeries on May 4, but in the absence of ...

6. McNeil government faces debt tidal wave

   The province’s net debt will rise from $15.2 billion to nearly $17.2 billion. ...

7. Salaries and benefits often account for more than half of all provincial government spending

   Even before the recession, the federal government and several provinces were facing significant budget deficits. Now due to COVID-19, the estimated federal deficit will eclipse $250 billion this year while the provincial deficits combined ...

8. Provinces in Atlantic Canada must align government compensation with private sector

   The economic fallout from COVID-19 will pose significant challenges to government finances in each of the four Atlantic Provinces. As such, governments must carefully review all spending, including compensation for government workers. ...

9. Estimating the recessionary impact on Nova Scotia finances: Part 2

   The COVID-19 crisis has dealt a major blow to Nova Scotia’s economy and all indications point to a marked deterioration of provincial finances. Prior to the recession, the McNeil government had established a string of balanced operating ...

10. Nova Scotians pay dearly for health-care wait times

    Appeared in National Newswatch, June 4, 2020 The COVID pandemic has placed health care at the forefront of the national conversation, as Canadians work collectively to reduce transmission rates while debating next steps. Health-care professionals have ...