Showing 1 - 10 of 21
Credit rating agencies have been blamed for their role in the recent financial crisis, notably for having assigned high ratings to complex financial instruments that yielded billions in losses to investors. As a consequence, a number of reforms have been proposed or introduced – including for...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10008527405
As new entrants arrive in Canada’s debit card market, rule changes are needed to ensure a level playing field, and to enhance the potential benefits of competition for consumers and merchants. In a study released today, the author assesses the implications of the rapidly changing debit payment...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10008594230
As new entrants arrive in Canada's debit card market, rule changes are needed to ensure a level playing field, and to enhance the potential benefits of competition for consumers and merchants. In a study released today, the author assesses the implications of the rapidly changing debit payment...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10013116343
The pension plans of federal government employees are relatively generous and badly underfunded, with the Pension Plan for Members of Parliament (MPs), which covers members of the House of Commons and the Senate, standing out on both counts. The MP plan promises much higher retirement incomes...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10010855058
Every year, legislators in Canada vote for budgets that set out targets for the coming fiscal year. But every year, governments tend to spend more than they promise at budget time. The result: accountability between legislators and voters breaks down. Canadians should demand better.
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10004998530
Fear of lawsuits may inhibit employers from steering employees into defined-contribution pension plans and RRSPs, and from guiding them into sensible choices for investing and withdrawing their money. Safe-harbour provisions that reduced this threat would help employers act in good faith to...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10004998531
Near-term turbulence should not distract Ottawa budget-makers from critical long-term tasks. This 2008 shadow federal budget will move Canada a key step forward by providing improved incentives and rewards for Canadians' work and saving, and a more congenial environment for investment and...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10004998532
Canadian governments are projecting large amounts of red ink in their 2009 budgets. Notwithstanding the impact of the economic slump on government finances, it is natural for Canadians to ask whether this new borrowing is partly the result of insufficient fiscal discipline during the good times,...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005000286
As a result of demographic change, Canadian governments face a net liability of $1.4 trillion for healthcare, education, seniors' and children's programs. Meeting this challenge will require fiscal discipline, partial prefunding and growth-friendly policies.
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005001835
Governments are major employers, and usually provide defined-benefit (DB) pension plans with full inflation indexing and generous early retirement provisions. Hence, changes in thinking about, and accounting for, the costs of DB pension plans have major implications for government finances. Both...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10008502558