The Bank of Canada issued a stark warning about the country’s weak labour productivity and low levels of business investment on Tuesday, saying the situation is an emergency that makes it harder to control inflation... read more
The growth crisis deepens. The latest figures from Statistics Canada confirm that Canada suffered yet another decline in per capita GDP in the fourth quarter of 2023: the fifth decline in the past six quarters, the worst... read more
A strike by unionized workers on the St. Lawrence Seaway has halted shipments of road salt, Western wheat and steel products amid the yearly rush to move the grain harvest and other key commodities ahead... read more
As a new flock of first-year Canadian university students settles into life on campus, many are receiving their first serious exposure to the study of economics. Some will find it exhilarating. Some will find it... read more
The federal government plans to strengthen competition laws, cut the GST from new home rental construction and push grocery chains to stabilize prices or face consequences, in a wide-reaching effort to address the rising cost... read more
There is so much in Canada that needs fixing. The health care system, once our national pride, now comes in various shades of broken. In Toronto, an underfunded Toronto Transit Commission, once North America’s model transit agency, has reduced... read more
It wasn’t long ago that researchers – including us – were discussing the real possibility of moving to a four-day workweek. But to achieve a reduction in the workweek, while maintaining or even increasing material living standards (as... read more
Christian missionaries from Canada laid some of the first building blocks of this country’s relations with China, creating schools and hospitals there more than a century ago. Canada’s first ambassador to communist China was born in... read more
The labour deal that ended a historic strike by federal government employees is expected to serve as a catalyst for workers across Canada to push for higher wages in an inflationary environment. The Public Service Alliance... read more
Canada’s annual inflation rate fell to 5.2 per cent in February, the biggest drop since the early stages of the pandemic, although grocery prices are still climbing by more than 10 per cent. Financial analysts had been... read more
The downtowns of most major Canadian cities are still facing a substantial dip in foot traffic compared with prepandemic norms – but the opposite is true of smaller towns and suburbs within commutable distance of... read more
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a $4.6-billion package of income-tested measures aimed at helping Canadians struggling with higher costs of living, at the same time insisting that the injection of new cash into the... read more
After months of negotiations, the U.S. Senate passed new legislation focused on reducing carbon emissions and steering consumers toward green energy. The US$430-billion bill represents the country’s largest single investment to combat climate change, earmarking... read more
The world economy is being hammered on all sides. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, soaring inflation and rising interest rates are weighing on global growth and pushing many countries towards recession. That’s reviving concerns about “stagflation” – a noxious combination of... read more
If flirty dresses and bright colours were signs of a strong economy, you might think consumers are on to the next spending spree. After months of a lockdown-related boom in loungewear, more formal attire is... read more
