Ottawa and the four biggest provinces have spent (or foregone revenues) of at least $158 billion to create at most 68,000 “clean” jobs since 2014

The Fiscal Cost of Canada’s Low-Carbon Economy and Sizing Canada’s Clean Economy are two new studies measuring the cost and size of Canada’s clean economy. They find that, despite the hype of a clean economic transition, governments in Ottawa and in the four largest provinces have spent or foregone revenues of more than $150 billion (inflation-adjusted) on low-carbon initiatives since 2014/15, but have only created 68,000 clean jobs, at most.

Use of ‘Notwithstanding clause’ more commonplace—even ‘normalized’—in recent years

Has the Notwithstanding Clause Become Less Controversial? finds that it’s becoming more commonplace—even normalized—for provincial governments to consider and use the notwithstanding clause, and media coverage and scrutiny of the notwithstanding clause differs depending on the province. For example, there’s less scrutiny in newspapers of the Quebec government, which uses the clause more than any other province, compared to the Ontario government.

‘Notwithstanding clause’ may be least-worst option to ensure legislative authority

Supremacy, Notwithstanding: In Canada, Who Protects Individual Liberties? Not Courts. Not Legislatures. finds that since the introduction of the Charter in 1982, Canada’s Supreme Court has been transforming its roster of individual freedoms into an instrument for progressive values and collective rights. In response, provincial governments have increasingly used the Notwithstanding clause (section 33 of the Charter) to assert their legislative authority and enact provincial laws that might otherwise be struck down by courts because they conflict with the judicial interpretation of certain Charter rights.

U.S. states that increase and achieve high levels of economic freedom tend to experience higher levels of economic growth

The Liberators: US States that Increased Their Economic Freedom in the 21st Century profiles the recent economic performance of three states—Idaho, North Carolina and North Dakota—that significantly increased the economic freedom of their citizens over the past two decades. It compares them with four states—California, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland—that significantly decreased their economic freedom since 2000.

Commentary and Blog Posts

Carney government must reduce spending to tackle deficit and strengthen economy

by Jake Fuss and Alex Whalen

According to projections, total federal debt will increase by nearly $1.0 trillion from 2024 to 2031.

Alberta government should embrace larger role for private health-care providers

(Appeared in the Calgary Sun) by Nadeem Esmail and Tegan Hill

Alberta is a relatively high-spending health-care province in a relatively high-spending health-care country.

Canadians paid $90 billion in government debt interest in 2024/25

(Appeared in Trending Politics) by Jake Fuss, Tegan Hill and William Dunstan

The federal deficit will reach a projected $92.2 billion in 2025/26.

Ottawa continues to infringe in areas of provincial jurisdiction

(Appeared in the Hub) by Tegan Hill and Jason Clemens

The Canadian federation was intended to be decentralized.

Eby bringing B.C. to its knees with Aboriginal land deals

(Appeared in the National Post) by Bruce Pardy

It's finally dawning on British Columbians that devotion to reconciliation is putting their land at risk.

Screening tools alone won’t improve reading skills of B.C. students

(Appeared in the Epoch Times) by Michael Zwaagstra

B.C. students today write less rigorous tests at fewer grade levels than they did just 10 years ago.

Premier Doug Ford—serial deferrer of balanced budgets

by Ben Eisen

The government's 2025/26 budget marks the third consecutive year it's presented different target dates for budget balance.

Other countries do universal health care better than Canada

(Appeared in the Toronto Sun) by Nadeem Esmail and Mackenzie Moir

In Australia and Switzerland, private for-profit hospitals provide a large portion of hospitalizations and surgical care.

Carney’s economic strategy signals strikeouts not homeruns

(Appeared in the Ottawa Sun) by Jake Fuss

Living standards, as measured by per-person GDP, are lower now than they were six years ago.

B.C. would benefit from new pipeline but bad policy stands in the way

(Appeared in National Newswatch) by Julio Mejía and Elmira Aliakbari

When the Trudeau government scrapped the Northern Gateway project, B.C. lost out on nearly 8,000 jobs a year.

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