- The Hub

April 23, 2021

Report

The boomers are retiring and we are struggling to replace them: Fraser

Canada’s slow labour force growth will be an increasingly pressing concern as more and more of the Baby Boomer generation are exiting the workforce, this study from the Fraser Institute outlines. Deficits will be harder to avoid, we will rely more on immigration to fill the shortages, and higher spending on health and income supports will be required – all putting an increasing strain on young workers struggling to establish themselves out of the pandemic.

The Hub Staff - April 23, 2021

Report

Canada’s COVID Misery Index rank remains miserable: MLI

Still languishing near the bottom of the rankings compared to comparable peer countries, Canada comes out at 10th overall in Total Misery on Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s COVID Misery Index. Reasons for this include our high excessive death rate, blunt lockdown measures, and continuing low rate of full vaccinations.

The Hub Staff - April 23, 2021

A Good Read

Educational justice means allowing for more religious charter schools: Convivium

Limiting religious educational options to Catholic schools in Alberta is an inequity that must be addressed, argues Brett Fawcett for Convivium. Promoting autonomy, improving accessibility, and attaining educational justice requires broadening these charter school allowances to all religions – and eventually to the rest of Canada too.

The Hub Staff - April 23, 2021

April 22, 2021

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The federal budget breaks records in all the worst ways: MEI

Rapidly increasing spending and skyrocketing federal debt means our debt servicing costs will soar as well. The Montreal Economic Institute lays out the numbers and the hard truths of what this will entail for Canadian taxpayers down the road.

The Hub Staff - April 22, 2021

Ideas

How do workers perceive automation risks? It’s complicated, AEI study finds

With automation increasing and displacing more and more jobs, it is important to understand how workers view this looming threat so as to better support them in their transition to new opportunities. This American Enterprise Institute paper examines these risk perceptions amongst truckers and provides some general recommendations for policymakers based on the counterintuitive findings.

The Hub Staff - April 22, 2021

In Conversation

What does Biden’s election mean for Canada – U.S. trade relations?

A vast majority of Canadians polled were supportive of Biden winning the presidency. But what does his election mean for Canada – U.S. trade relations that have been rocky in recent years? The Hub’s Sean Speer discusses at the Canada-Texas Chamber of Commerce.

The Hub Staff - April 22, 2021

Ideas

Decadence, neoliberals and more: Ross Douthat on Conservative Conversations

Are conversations about cancel culture really worthwhile? Or are they more like the band members on the deck of the Titanic arguing about what song to play while the ship…

The Hub Staff - April 22, 2021

April 21, 2021

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Future generations will feel the burden of our debt: C.D. Howe Institute

Monday’s federal budget, with all its big spending promises and program commitments, leaves future generations carrying the burden for today’s payoff, says Don Drummond for C. D. Howe Institute. Still, it could have been worse: while many proposals were included, still some were mercifully excluded.

The Hub Staff - April 21, 2021

Report

Lots of spending, no recovery plan in federal budget: Fraser Institute

While the federal budget released on Monday was packed full with red ink and new spending, including $30 billion for a national childcare strategy, it was light on any real plan for effective economic recovery, says Jake Fuss and Alex Whalen for the Fraser Institute’s Fraser Forum blog.

The Hub Staff - April 21, 2021

Ideas

Canada’s weak public markets are a threat to our overall economy: U of C

Fewer Canadian companies are going public, and this is bad news for our economy, according to this University of Calgary public policy research paper. Stifled by a hostile regulatory and governance ecosystem, companies are opting to stay private or sell to foreign buyers—bad news when Canada’s reliance on public markets is the highest in the world.

The Hub Staff - April 21, 2021

Ideas

Can a $100 billion Grand Innovation fund solve America’s growth problem?

America has a growth problem, and John Van Reenen, a professor at MIT, proposes a “moon shot” solution—a permanent $100 billion per year Grand Innovation Fund to drive research in crucial areas of climate change, pandemics, or anywhere else where innovation is lacking.

The Hub Staff - April 21, 2021

April 20, 2021

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Interprovincial trade barriers are stifling Canada’s economy: MEI report

While Canada may have been established with the vision of a single free market within our borders, this is not the case today. Unnecessary regulations and tariffs are hindering interprovincial trade and slowing economic growth, especially amongst the poorest provinces according to this report from the Montreal Economic Institute.

The Hub Staff - April 20, 2021

Report

Canada’s housing market sets all-time records in March: RBC Economics report

Canada’s housing market is setting records and doesn’t look to be slowing any time soon, according to this report from RBC Economics. Home resales and new sellers entering the market both reached all-time highs in March, and benchmark prices are up 20% relative to a year ago.

The Hub Staff - April 20, 2021

Ideas

More than 25 trillion dollars of economic opportunity in the Indo-Pacific region, says MLI

Canada should be aggressively seeking to take advantage of the more than US $25 trillion in infrastructure needed in the Indo-Pacific region by 2030. Doing so would grow Canadian businesses and strengthen ties with our allies, say experts in discussion at this Macdonald-Laurier Institute event.

The Hub Staff - April 20, 2021

April 19, 2021

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MLI’s quarterly economic report warns against inflation

Despite our slowing economy, MLI Senior Fellow Philip Cross is concerned that a surge of commodity prices will lead to higher inflation. He outlines his case here in Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s quarterly economic report.

The Hub Staff - April 19, 2021

In Conversation

Should we do away with political parties?

Do we still need political parties? Or are they needlessly polarizing? Would scrapping them altogether lead to better politics overall? The Hub’s Sean Speer joins a panel of guests on The Agenda to debate.

The Hub Staff - April 19, 2021

In Conversation

What will happen to Hong Kong?

Democracy in Hong Kong has been struck a crushing blow in recent weeks with Beijing exercising sweeping new authorities to amend the former British Colony’s Basic Law. What does this mean for Hong Kong and its citizens? Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s Pod Bless Canada podcast explores the issue.

The Hub Staff - April 19, 2021

Report

Cutting the tax rate could add 110,000 jobs, Fraser study finds

Job creation will be right near the top of Canada’s to-do list exiting the pandemic. One sure way to increase jobs is by lowering personal income-tax rates. Dropping the top statutory rate from 33%-29% could result in the creation of 110,000 jobs in the private sector, this Fraser Institute study finds.

The Hub Staff - April 19, 2021