Category Livio Di Matteo

Employment, Economic Comparisons and EU Trade

Despite continually being told that Canada has been one of the top economic performers throughout the recent world recession and financial crisis, we are not content to rest on our laurels and it appears that we continue to strive for better things.  Canada is in the process of negotiating a comprehensive Free Trade agreement with […]

Ontario and its Physicians: Richer Than They Think No Longer

Ontario’s health minister Deb Matthews is moving into a major battle with the physicians in the process of trying to get health care costs under control as part of the provincial deficit fighting agenda.  Deb Matthews has on a number of occasions remarked that Ontario’s physicians are the best paid in the country.

Visualizing GDP Performance

Statistics Canada just released its GDP statistics by industry for the provinces and territories for 2011. 

The Big Three Are Still Big

Employment growth in Canada has been particularly robust in the west and nowhere is this more evident than when examining recent employment growth amongst Canada’s CMAs.

Provincial Finances: An Estimate of “Tax Prices”

My previous post dealt with differences in provincial health spending and how on a per capita basis some provinces were substantially above the provincial average while others were not.  One of the factors behind any government spending at the provincial level is own source revenue capacity so in light of some of the comments asking […]

Is a Constitutional Challenge Public Health Care’s Next Arena?

Many Canadians believe that the Canada Health Act is the bulwark that is supposed to be protecting public health care and that it should ensure comparable levels of coverage across the country.  Yet, if one examines per capita provincial government health spending, the evidence shows that there are major differences.

Trade Shift?

Well, Stephen Harper’s recent statement during a talk at the Woodrow Wilson International Center as reported by the Globe and Mail during his recent visit to the United States that: “We cannot be in a situation where really our one and only energy partner can say no to our energy products” underscores what seems to […]

Ontario’s 2012 Budget: Bending the Spending Curve

Well the Ontario budget is out and despite all the talk of 30 percent across-the-board budget cutting in the wake of the Drummond Report, it forecasts more a deceleration of spending growth rather than steep cuts. 

What is a University President Worth?

Along with the Canada geese returning home and the melting snow revealing buds of green growth, another sign of spring in Ontario is the unveiling of the sunshine list – those individuals in the Ontario public sector and broader public sector earning $100,000 or more.  Included as always on the 2012 list are university salaries […]

Who is More Fiscally Sustainable: Ottawa or Queen’s Park?

Both the Federal and Ontario budgets are nearly upon us and the key watchword for both is going to be the sustainability of the public finances.