Economic Briefs

Canada's incredible shrinking public sector

Mar 11, 2011 03:04 PM There’s a widely held myth promoted by right wing forces and now accepted by many people — that public spending in Canada has increased steeply and is growing at unaffordable and unsustainable rates. In fact, the opposite is true.

The costs of a carbon tax for Canadian households

Jun 20, 2008 10:36 AM There has been a lot in the news and from political parties about the potential impacts of a carbon tax on Canadians, but little or nothing in the way of concrete facts. This Economic Brief, presenting unique analysis not available elsewhere, helps fill that void by showing how much a carbon tax would cost households of different income groups.

Low paid work still widespread in Canada

Nov 19, 2007 11:42 AM Despite strong economic growth, historically low unemployment rates and much discussion about labour shortages, about one in six of all employed workers in Canada - almost 2.2 million - was still low paid and earning poverty wages in 2006. This economic brief provides a short overview of the low wage workforce in Canada by province and demographic group.

Transfers to Municipalities Fell Billions Short in 2006

Nov 19, 2007 11:36 AM The cause of the budget crises and municipal infrastructure deficit confronting local governments in Canada is clear. Federal and provincial governments severely cut transfers to local governments starting in the mid-1990s. This caused a funding shortfall that is now about $4 to $7 billion a year. The solution is also very straightforward: federal and provincial governments need to substantially restore their transfers to local governments.

Building Canada ...but not by much

Nov 16, 2007 04:59 PM The federal Conservatives describe their new Building Canada infrastructure plan as “historic” and “unprecedented”. But in reality it provides very little increase in funding and represents a declining share of federal support for infrastructure, as this Economic Brief shows. It is unprecedented not for its increase in funding, but for its drive to privatize public services and for its level of political hyperbole.

Low Paid Work and Comparative Minimum Wages

Mar 23, 2007 12:06 PM The real value of the minimum wage is still far below what it was 30 years ago in every single province in Canada.

Canada to have Lowest Minimum Wages?

Jan 29, 2007 04:06 PM Canada could soon have the lowest legislated minimum wages of all wealthy Western countries if the US Fair Minimum Wage Bill becomes law. The average minimum wage in Canada is already far below levels in the U.K., Ireland, France, and many other Western countries. All Canadian provinces, with the exception of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, already have lower minimum wages than virtually all their bordering U.S. States.