Is Ontario in a “V” shape recovery? Analyzing the 2020 Ontario Budget

November 9, 2020

Economists have been interested to determine what kind of recovery jurisdictions like Ontario might face by using letters to paint a graphical image for people to understand. In essence, a “V” shaped recovery signifies a steep halting of the economy with an immediate very quick rebound. The 2020 Ontario budget seems to be telling us...Read More »

The school reopen plan meets the science/politics nexus

August 20, 2020

Ontario’s school reopen plan is in trouble, and it’s not because the plan itself is terrible. I actually think the plan makes sense, but I am not a scientist. However, we once again find ourselves stuck on this science/politics nexus, and it’s eating away at the plan and its roll out. During the pandemic, we...Read More »

So you want kids in schools this fall?

July 21, 2020

I want kids in schools this fall. Before we get there, let’s agree on the conditions that need to be met. First, community transmission needs to remain near zero. Confidence to have children in school, and teachers teaching them, without rampant fear of infection is necessary. This means “we” can’t screw up progress. It means...Read More »

The limits of science and political decision-making

July 3, 2020

Our political leaders are being lauded for deferring political decisions to scientists. Listen to the scientists, the common argument went, because they study this stuff and they can help us through these turbulent times. The politicians that did listen are being heralded by citizens for handling the coronavirus with a measured response. There are a...Read More »

Solutions without problems

June 22, 2020

With the Conservative Party of Canada’s leadership debates complete, it’s time to talk about one of the major challenges the party faces. A student of public policy will probably tell you that one of the foundations of good policy is defining a problem that ought to be fixed. There are lots of policy wonks out...Read More »

Covid-19: Back to Blog Edition

June 10, 2020

I probably should get back to blogging. I’m already tired of Zoom, Teams, Google Meets, and whatever else is out there. I find myself starring at my computer all day. So, I’m firing this baby back up. Hope you keep coming back!

Conservatives need a new script on climate change

December 5, 2019

One of the most frustrating things to watch is how political mistakes keep repeating. The Scheer Conservatives badly lost an election (my hot take), and certainly there are a lot of disappointed people running about in conservative circles. Before I comment on the Scheer leadership question, I believe it is important for Conservatives to do...Read More »

The Astonishing Lack of Attention to Ontario Government and Politics

September 26, 2018

Many people have been asking me about my thoughts on the recent release of the Ford government’s line-by-line audit and the unbelievably high deficit and debt numbers released by the Tories. It has been interesting to see the reaction to how this has all unfolded. The reaction switches from disbelief, to telling us something we...Read More »

Sex-Ed Reform Presents a Perfect Chance to Show Tories are Ready to Govern

July 16, 2018

Not long ago, on this blog, I called for the Ontario PCs to change the nature of the conversation the party is having with Ontarians. Some months later, the Tories super charged the rhetoric, won an election, and gave Ontarians its ‘government for the people.’ A populist revolt worked wonders during the election, and it did certainly fuel...Read More »

An era of ‘David Copperfield’ Budgeting

April 4, 2018

Ah, budgets don’t balance themselves, and it’s also true that budgets don’t deficit themselves either. Both require choices. And voters have to ask that, in a period of economic growth, why the heck are we ballooning our debts and deficits by so much? If we can’t make the tough choices when times are reasonably good,...Read More »

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