The government can’t waste this massive windfall. The price of oil is surging. That means that the provincial government is likely to end up with a massive resource revenue windfall this year. That’s a blessing for the Saskatchewan government that just released a budget that increases the provincial debt by $3.4 billion and wastes more […]
The recent announcement that Ontario will cut teachers’ college back to one year, increase in-class training, and establish a mentoring program is a win for kids, parents, taxpayers, and teacher candidates. When the union representing teachers complains about a lack of consultation or raises concerns about working conditions and early bargaining, the government has likely […]
Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra has been musing about potential school board reforms for months. Last week, he finally ended the suspense with broad-based legislation to make school board governance more accountable, improve financial management and strengthen student achievement. There is little doubt that significant change was needed. Questionable financial and governance decisions by too […]
A strong freedom-of-information law is a cornerstone of representative democracy. But if the Ford government has its way, those days might be over in the province of Ontario. The Ford government has introduced sweeping changes to Ontario’s freedom-of-information legislation, with Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement Minister Stephen Crawford insisting that the new changes […]
Manitoba’s latest budget did not make life more affordable. Instead, it covers up tax hikes and piles the cost of government debt on current and future generations of Manitobans. The government is highlighting its so-called tax relief in the budget. The government is removing the Retail Sales Tax from a few more grocery items. Most […]
Pity Canada’s poor finance ministers these days. It is not an easy job. Your boss is always keen to spend on new initiatives that might be politically popular. Your cabinet colleagues are happy to present you with a long list of financial asks, all urgently needed. Not to mention the seemingly endless demands from stakeholder […]
The Ford government’s 2026 budget contains some good news and bad news for taxpayers. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly. First, the good news. The main piece of good news in the Ford government’s 2026 budget is a plan to reduce the small business tax rate. For years, Ontario has had the highest […]
It could have been worse is about the best you can say about the 2026 Ontario budget released this week. Overall spending increased by about the rate of inflation, which is an improvement on previous budgets. However, at some point all of our governments are going to have to actually reduce their spending to get […]
Despite an optimistic start to 2026, housing construction in Ontario has fallen short of provincial policy goals for years. The Ford government once pledged to build 1.5 million new homes by 2031 but has since called that promise a “soft target.” For the past two years, growth in Ontario’s housing supply has lagged behind scores […]
You can only cancel plans so many times before your friends stop believing you will ever show up. Budget 2026 is likely Premier Wab Kinew’s last chance to make good on his promises to taxpayers before they start to feel they’ve been taken for a ride. Kinew’s NDP campaigned making life more affordable for families […]