Fraser Institute

Comparing Business Investment per Worker in Canada and the United States, 2002–2021

CALGARY—Business investment per worker—a key driver of income gains and living standards—has declined in Canada since 2014, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“The prosperity of Canadians depends in large part on the strength of business investment, so poor investment performance is bad news for workers,” said Tegan Hill, senior economist at the Fraser Institute and coauthor of Comparing Business Investment per Worker in Canada and the United States, 2002–2021.

Fiscal Waste During the Pandemic in Canada and the United States

During the pandemic, governments around the world spent a significant amount of taxpayer money in an effort to support their economies. This was particularly true in Canada, with hundred billion-dollar programs such as the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), and in the United States, with nearly trillion-dollar programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Impact Payments, and expanded and extended unemployment programs.

Models or Measures of Climate Change: Why Does It Matter?

Much of our understanding of anthropogenic climate change, and much of the debate over climate science and climate policy is based on information generated via mathematical modeling. Rarely, if ever, do we see much discussion of empirical measurements of climate change; global average temperature and sea level are rare exceptions. But empirical measurements of climate policy impacts, empirical measurements of changes that might, or might not, validate modeled projections of such climate changes, or empirical measurement of meteorological (weather) changes are scarce to non-existent in most media.

Today, June 19, is Tax Freedom Day—8 days later than in 2019, the last year before the pandemic

VANCOUVER—Today—Monday, June 19—Canadians celebrate Tax Freedom Day, the day in the year when they start working for themselves, not government, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Forest fires—truth going up in flames

Until the recent Canadian wildfires sent plumes of smoke over the densely populated cities around the Great Lakes and Eastern Seaboard, few people in those cities had ever experienced the weird orange haze of a forest fire or the temporary spike in fine particulates and pervasive smell of smoke. And understandably, many people reacted with some alarm. We city dwellers typically only see wildfires on television, usually alongside footage of fire crews and water bombers valiantly trying to put them out, which creates the impression they are somehow unnatural events that must be avoided at all costs. Of course, in reality, forest fires are not only natural but are essential to the life cycle of the forest ecosystem.

Polish incomes nearly quadrupled after Poland transitioned from socialism to market democracy

VANCOUVER—According to many key metrics including incomes and life expectancy, life in Poland improved dramatically after the country transitioned from socialism to a market democracy, finds a new book published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank, in partnership with think-tanks in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.

“When Poles finally discarded the yoke of socialism, life in Poland improved dramatically on virtually every measure of economic wellbeing,” said Matt Mitchell, Fraser Institute senior fellow and coauthor of The Road to Socialism and Back: An Economic History of Poland, 1939–2019.

Major Ontario cities dominate the rankings of lowest growth in Canada for median employment income

TORONTO—Major cities in Ontario, as defined by Statistics Canada’s Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs), rank among the lowest in the country for growth in median employment income from 2008-2019, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisanCanadian public policy think-tank.

Despite housing shortage, 1-in-4 neighbourhoods in Canadian cities saw number of housing units actually decline from 2016-2021

TORONTO—Despite a housing shortage in many cities across the country, the number of housing units in 26.4 per cent of Canada’s urban neighbourhoods—more than one-in-four—actually declined from 2016 to 2021, according to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Provinces risk their finances by relying on federal transfers for programs in areas of provincial jurisdiction

CALGARY—As the federal government promises to increase spending in areas of provincial jurisdiction, including pharmacare, dental care, and childcare programs, provincial policymakers should remember that future transfers are not guaranteed, potentially leaving enormous costs to the provinces to continue those programs in the future, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Canada’s GHG Cap on the Oil and Gas Industry Is All Pain With No Gain

In 2021, the Government of Canada enacted the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, more commonly discussed as “Net-Zero Emissions 2050.” The goal of this Act is to ensure that in the year 2050, Canada’s emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere are balanced by actions within Canada that pull greenhouse gases back out of the atmosphere, or at least, prevent some from entering that would otherwise have done so.

Reality of socialism in Poland serves as a stark warning to the 50% of young Canadians who favour socialism

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VANCOUVER—Younger Canadians aged 18 to 24—50 per cent of whom favour socialism as their preferred economic system—need to understand the real misery socialism inflicted on countries that tried it such as Poland. This is the main lesson of an upcoming book to be published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank, working in partnership with think tanks in the U.S., Australia and the U.K.

Ottawa-Gatineau metropolitan area had highest employment incomes nationwide in 2019

TORONTO—Canada’s national capital region had the highest median employment incomes in the country in 2019—the last year unaffected by COVID—while energy-centred census metropolitan areas (CMAs) also rank high, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Canada’s high government spending and debt accumulation did not produce economic growth during COVID

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VANCOUVER—During the pandemic, despite high levels of government spending and debt accumulation, Canada’s economy underperformed compared to most other advanced countries, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“While governments across Canada, particularly the federal government, increased spending markedly during COVID, it’s now clear we didn’t get much bang for our buck,” said Livio Di Matteo, professor of economics at Lakehead University, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and author of Global Aftermath: The Economic and Fiscal Effects of COVID in Canada and the World.

Medical wait times cost Canadian patients almost $3.6 billion in lost wages last year

VANCOUVER—Long waits for surgery and medical treatment cost Canadians almost $3.6 billion in lost wages and productivity last year, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Preliminary data suggest that an estimated 1.2 million patients waited for medically necessary treatment last year, and each lost an estimated $2,925 (on average) due to lost wages and reduced productivity during working hours.

Saskatchewan 3rd most attractive jurisdiction worldwide for mining investment; Newfoundland & Labrador and Quebec also in global top 10

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VANCOUVER— Saskatchewan remains Canada’s top-rated jurisdiction for mining investment, according to the Annual Survey of Mining Companies released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Nevada is the top-ranked jurisdiction worldwide for mining investment in this year’s survey, followed by Western Australia.

Higher deficit-financed spending by provincial governments leads to 26% higher taxes and 10% higher debt interest costs, historical analysis shows

CALGARY—Despite misperceptions that government deficits have no cost, higher deficit-financed spending by provincial governments over the past 50 years has led to higher taxes and higher debt-servicing costs, according

to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank.

Increasing number of Ontarians choosing independent schools over government schools

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TORONTO—Enrolment at independent schools in Ontario—as a share of total enrolment—increased over a recent 19-year period, while the share of enrolment in government schools declined, according to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“For their children’s education, parents in Ontario are increasingly choosing options outside the government school system,” said Michael Zwaagstra, senior fellow with the Fraser Institute and co-author of Where Our Students Are Educated: Measuring Student Enrolment in Canada, 2022.

Government workers across Canada receive 8.5% higher wages, on average, than comparable private-sector workers

VANCOUVER—The wage premium and more generous benefits that government workers in Canada enjoy over their private-sector counterparts is one area governments could look to reduce costs following the recession, finds a

new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

More housing was built in Canada during the 1970s than now

TORONTO—Despite rising population and growing demand, more housing was constructed in Canadian cities during the 1970s than what is presently being built, according to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“The reality is simple: Canada is not building enough homes to keep up with population growth or basic demand,” said Steve Lafleur, senior fellow with the Fraser Institute and co-author of Canada’s Housing Mismatch: Canadians want ground-oriented homes, but not enough are being built.

Federal government’s failure to restrain spending undermines Bank of Canada’s effort to tame inflation

VANCOUVER—The federal government’s decision to increase already high levels of spending and continued budget deficits will hinder the Bank of Canada’s efforts to tame inflation, finds a new study released today by the

Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank.