The CDHI Podcast

What leverage does Canada have heading into upcoming CUSMA negotiations and what is at stake? In this episode, Professor Meredith Lilly, former International Trade 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 talks could mean...

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...

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-...

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.

“Nation building” projects aren’t the only way to insulate Canada from Trump’s (trade) wars. Jack Mintz explains why a “big bang” reform is the only way to inject billions into the economy. Read the report: https://cdhowe.org/publication/big-bang-tax-reform-unleashing-growth-in-the-canadian-economy/ The C.D. Howe Institute is Canada’s most influential think tank. Hosted by Michael Hainsworth, subs...

After almost 40 years at the C.D. Howe Institute, President Emeritus Bill Robson reflects on the Institute’s success, the future of Canada, and the state of political discourse. Watch the exit interview as host Michael Hainsworth tours the new headquarters with the man who built it. The C.D. Howe Institute is Canada’s most influential think tank. Hosted by Michael Hainsworth, subscribe to the CDHI...

Canada’s kids are being outperformed by many of their global peers in math, despite spending more than the OECD average. Dr. Anna Stokke of the University of Winnipeg tells our Michael Hainsworth that there are several factors, from discovery-based learning to lack of standardized testing, but there are solutions.

How will Canada’s new Defence Investment Agency strengthen our sovereignty? Canada’s top soldier, General Jennie Carignan, on the Arctic, a 400,000-strong civil defence force, and whether purchasing F-35 fighter jets from a key ally remains in Canada’s best interests.

The Bank of Canada held its benchmark interest rate, but the decision comes as uncertainty around CUSMA looms large. Dr. Jeremy Kronick and Steve Ambler break down what the Bank's latest decision means.

AI is at the center of “creative destruction” of the Canadian Economy. The Institute’s 2025Nobel winner Peter Howitt sits down with our Michael Hainsworth to discuss the technology, our trade war with Washington, and why you should always keep your phone charged.

Canada can’t fall behind in the digital currency revolution. We famously adopted the bank machine before the US, and outpace most countries in digital adoption. On this episode of the C.D. Howe Institute Podcast, senior policy analyst Peter MacKenzie and fellow-in-residence Mark Zelmer tell host Michael Hainsworth why Stablecoin isn’t just a cryptocurrency fad, what the risks are if we stick our h...

Canada needs new infrastructure fast – but major projects still take years or decades. Why? Host Michael Hainsworth speaks with economist David Jones about what’s slowing us down and how projects under the  Building Canada Act  could speed things up.

It may be safe to mail Christmas cards again, but what will Canada's posties deliver in 2026? The Institute's Glen Hodgson on how to bring-down the billion dollar cost of delivering mail from coast to coast to coast.

Pull the plug on the Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate until we’ve got clarity on trade. That’s the advice from industry watcher Brian Livingston. The Institute’s fellow-in-residence has crunched the numbers and warns hundreds of thousands of Canadians won’t be able to buy the car they need. Want more insights like this? Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest research and expert commentary: https...

About a third of Canadians are taking financial advice from “finfluencers”. Golfdale Consulting’s Gary Edwards warns that this is a recipe for disaster for a demographic that can’t afford to gamble with their retirement funds. He offers two solutions.

Canada does not have a credible fiscal plan. After Ottawa revealed the details of its “sea change” budget, the Institute’s Bill Robson explains why Mark Carney’s first budget in the age of Trump fails to get a passing grade.

Think Canada has a productivity problem? Polytechnique Montreal’s Catherine Beaudry connects the dots between productivity, innovation, and one of the country’s other big issues: scaling-up small businesses.

The fall sitting of the House of Commons begins today, and it’s an uphill battle for Canada’s novice politician turned Prime Minister. Veteran political affairs reporter Paul Wells joins the C.D. Howe Institute’s Colin Busby to discuss what Parliament Hill's policy priorities should be.

With foreign student caps now firmly in place, how are Canada’s colleges and universities fairing? According to Alex Usher of Higher Education Strategy Associates and the University of Waterloo’s Mikal Skuterud, Ottawa needs to prioritize students — and the provinces need to prioritize spending.

Ottawa won’t meet its goal of reducing temporary immigration at this rate. The Institute’s Parisa Mahboubi asks why the federal government set a target it can’t meet, and tells Michael Hainsworth what needs to be done to bring more skilled labour into the economy.

What does it take to protect $1 trillion in trade? Three CUSMA negotiators share the importance of preserving duty‑free trade between Canada, the US, and Mexico – and why these relationships remain vital for all three economies.