Dear John,

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and that 2023 is off to a great start.

As for us, things are in full swing here at the Institute!

We started the year by releasing a critically important study which found that federal and provincial government debt in Canada has nearly doubled – over just the past 15 years!

That combined debt will total a projected $2.1 trillion this year – that works out to over $200,000 per Canadian family of four!

Imagine what Canadian families could do with that money!

This study was hugely successful, being placed on the front page of the National Post and covered in over 124 other newspapers across the country. It also received widespread attention on TV and radio, including Global News.

It was also widely shared on social media – including by Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

Amid the several other studies we have already released this month were the latest essays in our COVID essay series.

Lockdown: A Final Assessment finds that lockdowns reduced COVID deaths by 3.2%, but also discouraged people from getting regular medical checkups and preventative screenings, resulting in higher death rates from other illnesses!

According to data from the United States, if lockdowns reduced deaths by 3.2%, they saved 27,303 lives but helped cause 171,000 “excess deaths.”

In Canada and beyond, COVID lockdowns should go down as one of the greatest peacetime policy disasters in history and should never be repeated.

John, I think you’ll agree that this kind of sober, data-driven analysis of the reaction to COVID is desperately needed.

And we are one of the only organizations providing it!

With 2023 off to a great start already, I’m confident that this is going to be one of the Fraser Institute’s best years yet.

Can you help us continue to hold our governments accountable?

If you’re able to, please consider making a donation today.

Every dollar donated goes directly to ensuring we can reach as many Canadians as possible!

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Niels Veldhuis
President
The Fraser Institute