Institute

What Would the Ontario Deficit Look Like if the Quarantine Lasts Until August?

On April 6, 2020 / Economy and Jobs, Finance, Institute, Our Thinking, Provincial, Provincial Highlight

By Gabriel Sekaly Ontario’s Action Plan announced by the Ontario government on March 25 hit the mark in terms of a good first step in dealing the economic and fiscal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic situation arising out of this pandemic is unprecedented and the

The Inexact Science: Ontario releases COVID-19 modelling

On April 3, 2020 / Health Care, Institute, Our Commentary, Provincial, Provincial Highlight, Public Safety

Ontario has released the modelling and projection data it has been using to inform its response to COVID-19. Key takeaways from Ontario’s health officials include: If no intervention had occurred, 300,000 cases and 6,000 deaths were projected by April 30 and 100,000 deaths projected over the course of

Government Unveils COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Details

On April 1, 2020 / Economy and Jobs, Federal, Federal Highlight, Finance, Institute, Our Commentary

As April begins, more details were released on the federal government’s largest-ever economic program – the running tally for all recovery measures now exceeds $255 billion. Direct supports to Canadians now top $105 billion, with the lion’s share of that spend through two key mechanisms: $71 billion

Province Launches the Ontario Together Fund

On April 1, 2020 / Economy and Jobs, Health Care, Institute, Our Thinking, Provincial, Provincial Highlight, Public Safety

Premier Doug Ford and the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli issued a further call to action for businesses, organizations, and communities to redeploy capacity to manufacture essential medical supplies and equipment to help the province combat COVID-19. To support this, the province

Building Pipelines: Advancing Keystone XL and Canadian Industrial Capacity

On March 31, 2020 / Economy and Jobs, Education, Energy and Environment, Federal, Finance, Health Care, Institute, Natural Resources, Our Commentary, Provincial, Public Safety

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced an investment to accelerate the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The province’s investment includes $1.5 billion in equity in 2020 and a $6 billion loan guarantee in 2021, enabling immediate construction on the Alberta portion of the pipeline. The project is

Giving Municipalities Financial Flexibility During COVID-19

On March 31, 2020 / Finance, Institute, Municipal, Public Safety

By Michael Fenn Municipalities need new financial tools to get through COVID-19. Across the Canadian economy, governments are giving businesses – large and small – the lifeline of increased liquidity and credit, in order to avoid widespread business failures, large-scale layoffs, and discontinuation of contracts to small

Ontario Extends COVID-19 State of Emergency

On March 30, 2020 / Health Care, Institute, Our Thinking, Provincial, Provincial Highlight, Public Safety

With Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer recommending stronger updated guidelines for vulnerable individuals to stay home and self-isolate, Premier Ford confirmed that the province will be extending its state of emergency declaration for another 14 days (it is set to expire on March 31st). The Ontario Legislature is

Federal Government Broadens Access to Wage Subsidy

On March 30, 2020 / Economy and Jobs, Federal, Federal Highlight, Finance, Health Care, Institute, Our Thinking

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the broad eligibility requirements for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy: Businesses will be eligible if their revenues have decreased by at least 30 per cent due to COVID-19 The wage subsidy will be available to non-profit organizations and charities, as well as

March 27 Update: Second Wave of Federal Support for Businesses

On March 27, 2020 / Economy and Jobs, Federal, Finance, Institute, Our Thinking

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced additional supports to Canadian businesses and workers under the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, providing up to an additional $65 billion in direct support, and an additional $30 billion in deferred taxes and duties. The federal government will be increasing the small business

Canada Approves COVID-19 Emergency Package

On March 26, 2020 / Economy and Jobs, Federal, Federal Highlight, Finance, Health Care, Institute, Our Thinking

After negotiations between the government and opposition parties all day Tuesday and into the early hours of Wednesday, both the House of Commons and Senate have passed the Trudeau government’s emergency financial legislation, Bill C-13, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act (CERA). Governor General Julie Payette gave the