Fraser Institute

Ontario lost nearly 170,000 manufacturing jobs since 2007; Michigan added 47,000 above pre-recession levels

TORONTO—Ontario lost 169,800 manufacturing jobs from 2007 to 2017 while neighbouring Michigan added 47,000 above pre-recession levels over the same period, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Michigan and Ontario have a lot in common, but while Michigan has revived its manufacturing sector since the recession, Ontario manufacturing continues to struggle,” said Ben Eisen, Fraser Institute senior fellow and co-author of The Power of Comprehensive Policy Reform: Lessons for Ontario from Michigan.

Policymakers must consider automatic policy responses to recessions—EI benefits increased by nearly $5 billion in 2009

VANCOUVER—Regular employment insurance benefits (excluding special benefits such as maternity benefits) automatically increased by nearly $5 billion in 2009 during the last recession in response to increasing unemployment, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “When unemployment increases, as it does during recessions, employment insurance benefits increase automatically, without policymakers in Ottawa crafting a new policy in response to the economic downturn,” said Jake Fuss, Fraser Institute economist and co-author of Fiscal Policy and Recessions: A Primer on Automatic Stabilizers.

Annual health-care costs for typical Canadian family eclipse $13,000 this year

VANCOUVER—A typical Canadian family of four (two parents, two children) will pay $13,311 for public health-care insurance in 2019, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Despite misleading claims of Canada’s ‘free’ health-care system, Canadians actually pay a substantial amount of money for health care through a variety of taxes—even if they don’t pay directly for medical services,” said Bacchus Barua, associate director of health policy studies at the Fraser Institute and co-author of The Price of Public Health Care Insurance, 2019.

The average Canadian family paid $39,299 in taxes last year—more than housing, food and clothing combined

TORONTO—The average Canadian family spent more than 44 per cent of its income on taxes in 2018, more than housing, food and clothing costs combined, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Taxes—not life’s basic necessities—remain the largest household expense for families across the country,” said Finn Poschmann, resident scholar at the Fraser Institute, citing the Canadian Consumer Tax Index, which tracks the total tax bill of the average Canadian family from 1961 to 2018.

Wind and solar energy creates extra, higher costs, produces fewer environmental benefits than proponents claim

TORONTO—Despite rhetoric that renewable energy is cheap, wind and solar power generation comes with large—yet often ignored—costs that increase electricity prices for residents and businesses, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Electricity systems are complex, and too often policymakers pursue renewable energy sources such as wind and solar without understanding their true costs,” said Pierre Desrochers, Fraser Institute senior fellow, associate professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga and co-author of Generating Electricity in Canada from Wind and Sunlight: Is Getting Less for More Better than Getting More for Less?

Quebec’s public-private pharmacare model provides more generous—and timely—access to new drugs

MONTREAL—Quebec’s universal pharmacare system, which relies on both a public plan and private insurance providers, covers more drugs and provides quicker access to new medicines than other Canadian provinces, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Bills C-69 and C-48 further damage investment climate of Canada’s energy sector while U.S. investment soars

VANCOUVER—The ability of Canada’s energy sector to attract investment has been weakened by several government policies in recent years, all the while investment in the United States has soared, finds a new collection of essays released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian policy think-tank. “While Canada’s energy sector has suffered from insufficient pipeline capacity, increased regulations and taxation, the U.S. energy sector has enjoyed sweeping tax reforms and a significant reduction in red tape,” said Robert P. Murphy, Fraser Institute senior fellow and co-author of the essay Policy and Regulatory Framework Changes in the U.S. and Canadian Oil and Gas Sector.

Governments continue to ignore positive health reform lessons of countries such as Switzerland and the Netherlands—including on pharmacare

VANCOUVER—A new study released today by the Fraser Institute highlights positive reform lessons from Switzerland and the Netherlands—two countries that provide universal access to high-quality health care with shorter wait times, greater availability of medical resources, and often superior outcomes compared to Canada. And importantly, both countries also maintain universal coverage for pharmaceuticals.

Artificial intelligence and other technological advancements unlikely to lead to mass unemployment

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Despite dire predictions, history and demographics suggest that burgeoning technologies (including automation, artificial intelligence and robotization) will not lead to substantial job losses, finds a new essay series released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Business investment in Canada down in 10 of 15 economic sectors

VANCOUVER—Business investment—key to raising living standards for Canadians—has declined in two-thirds of the non-government sectors that comprise the Canadian economy in recent years, finds a new study released by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Ottawa’s tax hike on high-income earners will take in less revenue than expected—and eventually less than if it hadn’t increased taxes at all

TORONTO—The federal government’s recent tax increase on top earners will not raise the level of revenues expected and will eventually reduce government revenue, finds a study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “When governments raise tax rates with an eye on more revenue, taxpayers respond by working or investing less, or legally shifting income or expenses to reduce their taxes, which results in less additional revenue than governments expect,” said Finn Poschmann, resident scholar at the Fraser Institute.

Misguided cost-benefit analysis undermines climate policy

TORONTO—Cost-benefit analysis is a powerful tool for guiding climate policy but easily falls prey to two common errors, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “People often compare the wrong things when trying to decide if a policy is worth pursuing,” said Ross McKitrick, professor of economics at the University of Guelph, Fraser Institute senior fellow and author of Apples to Apples: Making Valid Cost-Benefit Comparisons in Climate Policy.

Pipelines key to raising living standards in remote, poor Indigenous communities

CALGARY—A large number of small, remote and fairly poor First Nations in British Columbia and Alberta support pipelines because they stand to gain substantially from them, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Current Ontario government plans to balance budget by replicating failed McGuinty approach

TORONTO—The new Ontario government’s plan to balance the budget—relying largely on increased revenue, not spending reductions—resembles similar unsuccessful plans by past Ontario governments, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

City of Toronto spent $4,010 per person in 2016, the most of any GTA municipality

More than 30% of Canadian economy protected from foreign competition

TORONTO—Governments in Canada restrict or prevent foreign competition in 30.6 per cent of Canada’s economy, including key sectors such as air transportation and telecommunications, which means almost one of every three dollars of the total value of all goods and services produced in Canada is shielded from competition, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Albertans kept 2017 federal deficit from doubling to $39 billion

CALGARY—The federal government’s deficit in 2017 would have reached a staggering $39 billion—instead of the $19 billion actually recorded—if not for the disproportionate net revenue contributions from Alberta, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Canadians are aware of Ottawa’s recent large deficits, but it’s less well known that the financial contributions of Albertans every year keep those deficits from being much larger,” said Ben Eisen, Fraser Institute senior fellow and co-author of How Albertans Continue to keep Federal Finances Afloat.

Canadian upstream oil and gas investment increased only 15% compared to 41% in the U.S.

CALGARY—From 2016 to 2018, capital investment in Canada’s upstream oil and gas industry (essentially, exploration and production) increased 15 per cent compared to 41 per cent in the U.S. over the same period, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Ontario high schools can improve student performance regardless of challenges

TORONTO—The Fraser Institute today released its annual rankings of Ontario secondary schools, the most accessible tool for parents to compare the academic performance of the province’s schools.

Establishing clear consultation guidelines, recognizing Indigenous property rights key to providing certainty for pipelines, resource projects

CALGARY—The federal government could provide greater certainty for major resource development projects—such as pipelines—by establishing clear consultation guidelines and recognizing Indigenous property rights, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.