Remembering Jack
It’s hard to believe that, four years ago on Saturday, our friend Jack Layton passed away. I say hard to believe because he still seems very present to me....
This election, Canada must tackle disability rights reform
Early into this federal election campaign and, encouragingly, talk of the creation of a Canadians with Disabilities Act has surfaced.
The economics (and ethics) of affordable child care
Many economists, particularly those that are male, find it difficult to understand the public interest in providing funding to child care.
Even Conservatives should embrace a decent minimum wage
Few Canadian economic debates are as long-standing and as predictable as that over the pros and cons of raising the minimum wage. Progressives call for a higher wage floor to...
Fraser Institute is wrong on the Canada Pension Plan
A recent study from the Fraser Institute claims boosting premiums to pay for higher Canada Pension Plan benefits would not work, since individuals would simply save less in RRSPs and...
Higher education no silver bullet in fight against inequality
Young people are constantly told that a post secondary qualification is the key to getting a good job, and tens of thousands of students are graduating this year in search...
Corporate Tax Cuts, Lost Revenues and Lagging Business Investment
Corporate tax cuts have been central to the Harper government's economic agenda. The result has been a huge loss of public revenues for negligible economic gain, suggesting that we need...
Statement by Rick Smith on passage of Bill C-377
Today, Bill C-377 passed Third Reading in the Senate after the Conservative government shut down debate. If there was any doubt this anti-labour “Private Member’s Bill” didn't have the...
Fiscal Austerity Causing Long Term Economic Damage
While Canada's short term economic prospects are pretty gloomy, longer term projections are even worse. A major reason is that policy-makers here and in all of the advanced industrial countries...
Good labour relations key to educational achievement
Recent tensions in relationships between provincial governments and teachers, especially in British Columbia and Ontario, deserve to be understood in a wider context. Good labour relations in education and positive...
