Canada’s Aging Population Means Different Things For Different Provinces – Globe And Mail Op-ed
The aging of the population has accelerated in Canada during the past decade, but not all provinces evenly bear the brunt of an aging labour force and growing share of seniors. The four Atlantic provinces are facing significant challenges while Alberta is less vulnerable and more prepared.
Lower fertility rates and improvements in life expectancy have contributed to Canada’s aging population. This demographic shift causes the labour force to shrink as a percentage of the population and slows economic growth. Further, the aging population has some implications for government finances since it dampens revenue growth and puts pressure on government spending that is sensitive to aging, such as health care and public pensions.
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Anindya Sen – Minimum Wage Boost Versus Tax Credits, The Tale of the Tape
From: Anindya Sen To: Kevin Flynn, Ontario Minister of Labour Date: May 9, 2018 Re: Minimum Wage Boost Versus Tax Credits, The Tale of the Tape The Ontario minimum wage increased from $11.60 to $14 on January 1 and is scheduled to rise to $15 next January. Progressive Conservative Party leader Doug Ford, has indicated […] Fast-growing Municipal Wages Point to Need to Revisit Labour Laws: Globe and Mail Op-Ed
In recent years, municipal employees’ wage growth has constantly outpaced other unionized sectors. Since wages, salaries and benefits make up more than half of the operating expenditure for most municipalities in Canada, ever-growing municipal wages are putting pressure on local public finances.
The evidence of fast-growing municipal employees’ wages can be found in the comprehensive data on collective bargaining covering 500 or more employees provided by Employment and Social Development Canada. Wage growth of municipal employees has significantly surpassed inflation in most years: municipal employees saw an average real wage growth of 0.53 per cent a year since 2011. In contrast, non-municipal public-sector workers…
Full Video – Regent Debate: Should Western Democracies Adopt a Universal Basic Income?
On April 11th, 2018 the C.D. Howe Institute hosted its inaugural Regent Debate, where four prominent voices sparred over the following question: Should Western democracies, such as Canada, establish a universal basic income to help their citizens cope with the disruptive effects of new technologies and artificial intelligence?
Watch the full video, including introductory arguments, rebuttals, and how the jury and public voted on the topic.
Paul Begala (Political Commentator, CNN, and Former Aide to President Clinton), and Hugh Segal (Hugh Segal, Principal, Massey College, and Former Senator) represented the affirmative, and Conrad Black (Founder, National Post) and Dr. Janice MacKinnon (Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a member of the Order of Canada, and a former Saskatchewan Finance Minister) represented the negative.
The Regent Debate: Hugh Segal and Conrad Black – Rebuttals
In this special series of Intelligence Memos we presented the opposing arguments made at the C.D. Howe Institute’s inaugural Regent Debate earlier this month. Four prominent voices, Janice MacKinnon, Conrad Black, Paul Begala and Hugh Segal, sparred over the following question: Should Western democracies establish a universal basic income? Today: the duelling rebuttals from former […] The Regent Debate: Paul Begala and Janice MacKinnon – Rebuttals
In this special edition of Intelligence Memos we present the opposing arguments made at the C.D. Howe Institute’s inaugural Regent Debate earlier this month. Four prominent voices sparred over the following question: Should Western democracies establish a universal basic income? Today: the rebuttals presented by Paul Begala, CNN commentator and former senior policy aide to […] A basic universal income in Canada is more realistic than you think: Maclean’s
Hugh Segal is principal of Massey College. He served in the Canadian Senate as a Conservative from Ontario and was vice-chair of the subcommittee on urban poverty.
Every democracy’s internal legitimacy is tied to how fair the residents of that country feel…
What’s wrong with Ontario’s child-care plan
Published in the Globe and Mail. Free licensed child care. It sounds like a parents’ dream. But look a little closer at the Government of Ontario’s recently announced plan to deliver free licensed child care for preschoolers, and flaws emerge. Beyond the arguably late starting age of 2½ years, this initiative could have unwelcome consequences […] Richards, Mahboubi – Let’s Get Serious About Indigenous Student Outcomes
From: John Richards and Parisa Mahboubi To: Provincial Ministers of Education Date: March 16, 2018 Re: Let’s Get Serious about Indigenous student outcomes As education ministers, you realize that Indigenous students present the largest ethnic group facing serious academic gaps – in terms of failure to complete high school and in terms of learning outcomes. […] Rosalie Wyonch – An International Comparison Of Gender Balance
From: Rosalie Wyonch To: Concerned Canadians Date: March 8, 2018 Re: International Comparison of Gender Balance for International Women’s Day Recently there has been a strong public and political focus on greater equality of women. Government policies and social awareness movements, such as #MeToo, #HeForShe and Catalyst, can help improve equality between men and women, […] Alexandre Laurin – Employment and Pay (In)equality: The Big Childcare Issue Unaddressed in the Budget
From: Alexandre Laurin To: Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance Date: March 1, 2018 Re: Employment and Pay (In)equality: The Big Childcare Issue Unaddressed in the Budget This week’s federal budget contains a host of initiatives, mostly small, to improve labour market outcomes of women. Those include federal pay equity legislation, a national roundtable for gender-based […] The Ripple Effect Of Ontario’s Minimum-wage Increase – Globe And Mail Op-ed
The economic impact of Ontario’s minimum-wage hike on the province’s lowest earners has received a great deal of attention, but the effect is felt more broadly by employers who face labour cost increases.
Ontario increased its minimum wage to $14 from $11.60 on Jan. 1 and plans another hike – to $15 an hour – next year. As predicted, some businesses responded immediately by reducing hiring, cutting employee work hours, reducing benefits and charging higher prices. Further, Ontario experienced a decline of more than 59,000 part-time jobs in January, as highlighted by Statistics Canada. While it is too early to attribute this decline to any specific factor, the sharp wage hike is unlikely to have…