What leverage does Canada have heading into upcoming CUSMA negotiations and what is at stake?

In this episode, Professor Meredith Lilly, former InternationalTrade Advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, joins Steve Verheul, Canada’s chief negotiator for NAFTA, to discuss Canada’s negotiating leverage, the pressures shaping North American trade, and what the next round of CUSMA talkscould mean for Canada’s economy.

Is Canada in a technical recession? Following the latest GDP figures from Statistics Canada, Business Cycle Council members Jeremy Kronick and Philip Cross unpack what a technical recession actually means and why Canada's current economic challenges run much deeper.

Youth unemployment in Canada is soaring, entry-level jobs demand years of experience, and many Gen Z graduates are wondering if AI will replace the careers they studied for. In this episode, economist and University of Laurier professor Tammy Schirle breaks down what’s really happening in the job market — and why young Canadians are struggling more than previous generations.

In this episode, host Michael Hainsworth speaks with Kate Koplovich, Senior Policy Analyst at the C.D. Howe Institute, about Ottawa’s proposed Canada Strong Fund and what a new $25 billion sovereign wealth fund could mean for Canadians. They break down how sovereign wealth funds work, why Canada’s model differs from successful funds in places like Norway and Quebec, and whether borrowing billions to invest is a smart economic strategy or a risky bet.

Read her Financial Post opinion piece: https://cdhowe.org/publication/the-25-billion-sovereign-wealth-fund-is-not-enough-for-canadas-investment-challenges/

The C.D. Howe Institute is Canada’s most influential think tank. Hosted by Michael Hainsworth, subscribe to the CDHI Podcast feed to get all our best content: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-cdhi-podcast/id1093920522 (Apple) https://open.spotify.com/show/1jIiUjOjlCUrzi6ZTI3GCM?si=ed51bb3130984f5b (Spotify) Watch a video version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CDHoweInstitute

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More than 9 million Canadians don’t have a company pension plan because they work for a small business that doesn’t think it can afford one. Finance veteran Keith Ambachtsheer and industry leader Alex Mazer have a solution that keeps SMEs competitive during unprecedented times.

https://cdhowe.org/publication/spreading-the-benefits-a-targeted-tax-credit-is-needed-to-expand-retirement-plan-coverage-in-canadas-private-sector/

Canada promised over 250,000 new childcare spaces – but many still haven’t materialized. While $10-a-day fees have improved affordability, families are increasingly stuck on waitlists as demand outpaces supply.

Economists Parisa Mahboubi and Tingting Zhang explore what’s behind the gap and how it can be fixed.

A $300 billion global AI race is underway - but is Canada falling behind? Daniel Schwanen and Rosalie Wyonch join the podcast to discuss AI's explosive growth and what’s needed for Canada to turn world-class research into real economic gains before it’s too late.

Trump may waver on NATO, but Canada’s 5% commitment isn’t going anywhere - and it could cost $150 billion. .The question is: how do we pay for it? Colin Busby and Nicholas Dahir lay out a path forward that avoids piling on debt.