Canada's Economy, Explained

In this episode of Canada’s Economy, Explained , host Marwa Abdou sits down with Dr. Trevor Tombe, Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary and Director at the School of Public Policy. Tombe discusses the widening fiscal divide between Canada and the United States and what it means for Canada's economy, trade, and future stability. While Canada’s federal deficit stands at 1.6% of GDP, t...

In this episode, host Marwa Abdou speaks with Dawn Desjardins, Chief Economist at Deloitte Canada, about the country's fragile economic outlook for 2025. Desjardins shares insights from Deloitte’s Calm Before the Storm report, which highlights falling interest rates, stable inflation, and household savings as economic supports — while new U.S. tariffs and slowing immigration policies introduce ser...

In this episode of Canada’s Economy, Explained , host Marwa Abdou sits down with Dr. Chad P. Bown, Reginald Jones Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and former Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of State, to examine how new U.S. tariffs could impact Canada’s economy. Bown explains how Canada’s deep ties to U.S. supply chains leave it exposed to major cost incre...

This episode explores Canada’s gender gap in entrepreneurship with Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO of the Business Development Bank of Canada, and tackles the systemic barriers women face—especially in accessing capital.    Drawing from BDL’s new report, Women Entrepreneurs: Canada’s Biggest Missed Business Opportunity , the discussion reveals why women still own just 18% of Canadian businesses...

U.S. tariffs threaten Canada’s economy and will put industries, jobs, and supply chains at risk. According to the Business Data Lab, $3.6 billion in goods and services cross the border daily as part of our $1.3 trillion trade relationship. Trump's 25% tariff on goods could shrink Canada’s GDP by a whopping 2.6%.   Mairead Lavery, former President and CEO of Export Development Canada (EDC), talks w...

This episode of The Business Data Lab Podcast explores Canada’s “productivity emergency” and why the country ranks second-lowest in the G7 for labour productivity. Host Marwa Abdou, Senior Research Director, and Andrew DiCapua, Economist at the BDL, break down the challenges—from 11 consecutive quarters of negative productivity growth to underinvestment in technology and an overreliance on low-pro...

In this episode of Canada’s Economy Explained: The Business Data Lab Podcast , host Marwa Abdou speaks with Stephen Tapp, Chief Economist, and Patrick Gill, Senior Director, about the key economic predictions shaping Canada in 2025. The conversation covers affordability pressures, labour disruptions, immigration slowdowns, and the potential impact of Trump’s tariffs. Affordability remains a top co...

Welcome to The Business Data Lab Podcast: Canada's Economy, Explained. An initiative of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Hosted by Senior Research Director Marwa Abdou, this podcast features insightful discussions with economists and business leaders.  Listen in for deep, expert analysis of Canada's top economic trends to help you make sense of the numbers.