April 29, 2021

In The Know
In Conversation

Ontario needs transit-oriented communities: Ontario360

While Canada may still be a car-dependent nation with cities typically built containing sprawling suburbs around a dense urban core, this need not be the case argues Ontario360. Sean Speer, Matt Siemiatycki, and Drew Fagan discuss the why Ontario needs transit-oriented communities and how to make them happen.

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April 28, 2021

In The Know
Ideas

Reforming Canada’s spectrum auctions would bring down our telecomms costs: C. D. Howe Institute

Canadians have long bemoaned our soaring mobile rates and telecommunications expenses. And for good reason: they are four times higher than the international average. One way to alleviate these costs would be to reform the way we hold our spectrum auctions. Benjamin Dachis breaks down the details and benefits of doing so in this intelligence memo for C. D. Howe Institute.

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In The Know
In Conversation

Does the federal budget live up to its feminist branding?: The Long Way

The Liberal government have been vocal in proclaiming their new budget as a “feminist” budget with its emphasis on a national childcare system. But does this label really fit? Or is their definition of feminism too narrow to apply to the flexible and often differing needs of Canadian women and families? Cardus’ The Long Way podcast discusses on their latest episode.

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April 27, 2021

In The Know
Report

Canadians still agree on COVID-19 & lockdown measures: PPF

More than a year into the pandemic and the immense burdens this has brought, public consensus on COVID-19 and the government response to it remains consistent. Canadians broadly agree on the risks of the disease, which measures should be implemented, and how much income support should be provide, this report from Public Policy Forum finds.

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In The Know
Ideas

Support for Taiwan is crucial to Japanese security: MLI

Chinese People Liberation Army escalations in the Taiwan Strait have elicited a joint statement from the United States and Japan reaffirming the two allies’ support for the democratic independence of Japan. An important step, writes J. Michael Cole for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s Inside Policy, as Taiwan independence is a crucial bulwark for Japan’s (and other regional allies’) national security as China becomes ever-more aggressive.

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In The Know
A Good Read

A Biden-imposed global minimum tax rate is a troubling proposal: Fraser

The Biden administration’s new proposal for a global minimum tax is bold, and all the more troubling for it, writes Daniel Mitchell for the Fraser Forum blog. A minimum tax threshold implemented across the G20 would certainly serve American interests, but at the cost of growth and competitiveness for other smaller countries who opt for lower corporate taxes.

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April 26, 2021

In The Know
In Conversation

Is America prepared to deal with the threat of China?

China is rapidly growing and expanding its ambitions in threatening ways across the globe. How prepared is America, and the West generally, to deal with this rising hegemon. Are we in another cold war conflict? The Hoover Institution’s Uncommon Knowledge podcast hosts H. R. McMaster and Matthew Pottinger to discuss.

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April 23, 2021

In The Know
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.

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In The Know
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.

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In The Know
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. 

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