Insights

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 Thinking, 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

Ontario Unveils Fiscal Update; COVID-19 Worsens

On March 25, 2020 / Economy and Jobs, Health Care, Institute, Our Thinking, Provincial, Provincial Highlight

Ontario’s Action Plan 2020: Responding to COVID-19 During an emergency session of the legislature, Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips announced sweeping investments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of his March 2020 Economic and Fiscal Update. Much of it is aimed at getting money into

Ontario Lowering Hydro Rates in Response to COVID-19

On March 24, 2020 / Energy and Environment, Health Care, Institute, Our Thinking, Provincial, Provincial Highlight

With social distancing in full effect, the Ford government is temporarily ending time of use electricity rates for families, farmers, and small businesses. At all hours of the day, customers will be charged the lower off-peak rates usually reserved for the overnight period. This measure will be

Potential Economic & Fiscal Impact of COVID-19 on Ontario

On March 24, 2020 / Economy and Jobs, Finance, Health Care, Institute, Provincial, Provincial Highlight

By Gabriel Sekaly On March 25th, Ontario will present a one-year fiscal and economic update, rather than a full budget, given the currently uncertain economic situation. This one-year outlook will allow transfer partners to plan their operations and for the government to table Expenditure Estimates and a