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FRASER UPDATE
A weekly digest of our latest research, commentary, and blog posts
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Latest Research
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Equalization payments to Maritimes in jeopardy as Alberta and other 'have' provinces struggle
The Great Convergence: Measuring the Fiscal Capacity Gap Between “Have” and “Have-Not” Provinces is a new study that finds the gap between the ability of Canada’s richer and poorer provinces to raise revenues is shrinking rapidly. If Alberta’s fiscal capacity gap continues to shrink relative to the rest of Canada, the province could soon become eligible for equalization transfers, which would affect transfers to other so-called “have not” provinces.
Read More [[link removed]]
B.C. economy remains vulnerable due to heavy reliance on housing industry
An Evaluation of the Recent Performance of British Columbia’s Economy finds that any downturn in B.C.'s housing sector will have serious consequences for the provincial economy.
Read More [[link removed]]
Commentaries and Blogs on Ottawa’s Economic Update
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Fiscal update—federal finances in worse shape than previously thought [[link removed]]
by Jake Fuss
Per-person federal government program spending will reach an estimated $16,350 in 2020.
Making sense of Canada’s $381.6 billion federal budget deficit [[link removed]]
by Ben Eisen and Jake Fuss
Eliminating the entire equalization program this year would reduce the federal deficit by only 5.4 per cent.
Trudeau government’s approach to federal finances anything but ‘prudent’ [[link removed]]
(Appeared in the National Newswatch) by Jason Clemens, Jake Fuss, and Milagros Palacios
Up to $22.3 billion of income stabilization spending was likely wasted or poorly targeted.
Trudeau government shows no interest in properly targeting assistance—despite deficits [[link removed]]
(Appeared in National Newswatch) by Jason Clemens and Milagros Palacios
This year's federal budget deficit will reach an estimated $381.6 billion.
Other Commentaries and Blogs
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Kenney government must reduce spending to right fiscal ship [[link removed]]
(Appeared in the Calgary Sun) by Tegan Hill and Steve Lafleur
Alberta's net government debt will reach a projected $90.1 billion by 2022/23.
Trump executive order may limit access to prescription drugs in Canada [[link removed]]
(Appeared in the Toronto Sun) by Steven Globerman
Drug manufacturers may forgo sales in Canada to increase average reference prices.
Ontario’s finances—back to the ’90s? [[link removed]]
by Ben Eisen and Tegan Hill
The province expects a $33.1 billion deficit next year.
What a difference a decade can make—southwestern Ontario’s sobering lesson for Alberta [[link removed]]
by Ben Eisen and Steve Lafleur
Alberta had the lowest top personal income tax bracket in North America in 2014—now it has the 10th highest.
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