It is often said that the private sector is in a good position to manage project costs and meet deadlines, but not, generally, to fund or finance projects. The underlying argument runs as follows: because the interest rate on government borrowings (the government's financing cost) is lower than...

Since the report of an expert commission five years ago, Ontario pension standards have been updated multiple times in response – but there is still room for significant improvements.Further action is needed in three key areas:• the low participation rate of private sector employees in...

In Canada, various sectors of the economy are subject to government regulations, many of which are designed to correct market failures. However, such regulations are generally inconsistent with federal competition law, which aims to promote economic efficiency by maintaining the integrity of...

Skilled trades workers – ranging from electricians to carpenters to welders – are a crucial component of the Canadian labour force. However, many employers report that there are shortages of skilled workers in these occupations.Federal and provincial governments have targeted many grant and...

Interest rates in Canada and in many other countries have not been so low since the Great Depression. When taking into account inflation, short-term interest rates are negative in most developed countries, including Canada where the overnight rate currently stands at 1 percent in nominal...

Provincially appointed panels have recommended that the province of Ontario force local electricity distribution companies (LDCs) to amalgamate into a handful of large, regional operations. However, just as forced consolidations of municipalities have led to few clear savings, so too it is...

Canadians can be proud of their country's relatively strong recovery from the 2009 slump, but should not be complacent. Canada's fiscal situation is strong only by comparison with the dire situations in other major advanced countries. Our national saving rate is too low to support needed...