C.D. Howe Institute

Canada’s rank on freedom to make life choices is 58th today, down from 12th a decade ago. People feel less in control of their lives, whether it’s moving, job mobility, or improving their situation. “That’s a major connection to happiness," says Wyonch. theglobeandmail.com/life/article-c…

Shouldn't cybersecurity and privacy practices for regulators and self-regulatory organizations reflect the same standard followed by regulated entities? Gary Edwards has a proposal for setting a baseline. cdhowe.org/publication/pa…

Canada’s $10-a-day childcare plan has lowered costs and modestly boosted maternal employment, but too few spaces mean many families are stuck on waitlists. cdhowe.org/publication/fr…

Canadians face the highest personal income tax rate in the G7 – and it comes at a cost. In our latest podcast, Jack Mintz breaks down why Canada needs a bold “big bang” tax reform – and how it could inject billions into the economy. 🎧Listen here: cdhowe.org/publication/ho…

Jeremy Kronick on BNN Bloomberg: holding the Bank of Canada’s rate at 2.25% was the right call despite a weak job market and cooling inflation. But oil, food costs & global uncertainty from Iran to USMCA complicate the outlook. Learn more: cdhowe.org/publication/un…

Holding the policy rate wasn’t hesitation – it was the right call. Weak jobs data and cooling inflation are real – but rising oil, food costs, and global uncertainty – from the Iran war to USMCA risks – complicate the outlook. cdhowe.org/publication/un…

Canada’s $45-million support to NGO-run primary schools has been a resounding success in Bangladesh, dramatically raising basic reading and math skills. Canada should do more of the same, they argue. cdhowe.org/publication/ca…

How do Canada’s health systems stack up on seniors’ care? Most Canadian provinces fall below the international average, with Alberta and Ontario performing slightly above average, and New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador ranking lowest. Learn more: cdhowe.org/publication/ca…

More than 500,000 Canadians aged 65+ don’t have a regular doctor. Our latest report finds Canada ranks last among 10 high-income countries for timely access to care for seniors. Learn more: cdhowe.org/publication/th…

We’re pleased to announce that Don Drummond will continue his role as a Fellow-in-Residence with the C.D. Howe Institute, contributing his expertise to our Fiscal and Tax Competitiveness program as an advisor.

Our Monetary Policy Council recommends the Bank of Canada leave the target for the overnight rate at 2.25 percent on March 18. Read their full analysis → cdhowe.org/publication/mp…

Our Monetary Policy Council, or MPC, calls for the Bank of Canada to maintain the overnight rate at 2.25 percent at its next announcement on March 18 and for the next 12 months. cdhowe.org/publication/mp…

Canada spends 11% of GDP on healthcare - more than some top-performing systems. Yet outcomes for seniors still lag behind our international peers. The lesson: higher spending doesn’t always equal better care. Learn more in Tingting Zhang's latest report: cdhowe.org/publication/th…

Innovation in a country's economy is driven by both specialized support and competitive pressure. More competitive pressure from sophisticated customers and rivals compels our firms to innovate or die. Canada needs to redress the balance, says Milway. cdhowe.org/publication/wa…

Governments are searching for solutions to Canada’s chronic productivity malaise. Revitalizing risk-taking & entrepreneurship will take more than “nation-building” projects, or ending internal trade barriers. Mintz, Laurin & Dahir have some proposals. cdhowe.org/publication/a-…

We’re pleased to welcome Andrew Sancton as a Fellow-in-Residence at the C.D. Howe Institute. An award-winning author and longtime member of the Department of Political Science at Western University, Sancton will work as an advisor to the Institute’s Housing Policy Working Group.

Canada's asylum system is uniquely opaque, with ministers lacking oversight of the IRB. Reconstituting it into a departmental structure with ministerial oversight is key to setting asylum policy effectively.

Determining the truthfulness of an asylum claim solely from written submissions is impossible. A hearing is crucial to question claimants and examine documents, as written files alone can be misleading. Acceptance rates, now near 80%, highlight the need for this process.

Municipally owned electricity distribution companies need to put the bill for massive grid upgrades on property tax bills because federal rules discourage private investment. Ben Dachis explains and offers a solution. cdhowe.org/publication/th…

Since September 2025, inflation has been running above target again – and a big reason is soaring food prices. In fact, without rising food costs, headline inflation since September would have been below target in nearly every month. Learn more: cdhowe.org/publication/wh…