All Publications
Canada needs to rethink its innovation policy to meet grand challenges
As posted on LinkedIn We live in an era increasingly defined by grand challenges: a global pandemic, an unsettling new geopolitical order, and an economy shaped by complex issues such as climate change, rising inequality, and demographic shifts. These challenges require […]
Canada needs to get its stalled immigration system back on track
As published in the Global and Mail. The effects of COVID-19 on Canada’s economy can be measured in many ways. Some are obvious: millions unable to work, thousands of firms forced to close their doors, more than $250-billion in emergency […]
We lost our fiscal anchor. We’re going to need a new one.
WE LOST OUR FISCAL ANCHOR. WE’RE GOING TO NEED A NEW ONE. DATE: September 8, 2020 PUBLICATION TYPE: Articles RELATED ISSUES Corporate / Public Governance, Jobs and Skills, Macroeconomic and Fiscal SHARE THIS PAGESEARCH PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS ARCHIVES: ARTICLES Select a year […]
A Biden presidency? Why Canada needs its own economic recovery plan to ‘build back better’
As published in the Globe and Mail Robert Asselin is senior vice-president of policy at the Business Council of Canada and former policy adviser to two prime ministers As Joe Biden is set to be formally nominated by his party at […]
The perfect stimulus for cash-strapped governments
As published in the Globe and Mail The beginning of summer has brought welcome news about Canada’s economy and Canadians’ prospects after a spring devastated by COVID-19. Measures of activity and confidence, even numbers of jobs, are up from the […]
Corporate tax changes to foster economic growth
As published in the Canadian Tax Foundation’s Perspectives on Tax Law & Policy Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on economies around the world. Unemployment has soared, while trade has slowed and investment has plummeted. As economies […]
The Canadian economy post-lockdown
As published in Policy Magazine The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the Canadian economy. In the first quarter of 2020, the economy shrank by a previously unimaginable 8.2 percent on an annualized basis. The economic downturn pushed the unemployment rate to […]
There is no economic recovery without adequate child care
As originally published in The Star The economic fallout of COVID-19 is stark – and women are feeling the brunt of it. Over 1.5 million women lost jobs over March and April, according to Statistics Canada. That’s a 17% drop in […]
Only a healthy population can restart the economy
As published in Maclean’s Is there light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel for Canadians who are eager to go back to work and reopen places of business? Most provincial governments clearly think so, and are planning to relax […]
The multi-speed recovery from COVID-19
As published in iPolitics As recently as a few weeks ago, there were hopes that once the spread of COVID19 was arrested, Canada’s economy would kick into gear and life would return more or less to normal. It is now […]