Government Spending

New Brunswick Premiers and Provincial Government Spending

— Mar 21, 2023

New Brunswick Premiers and Provincial Government Spending is a new study that reviews annual per-person program spending (inflation-adjusted) by New Brunswick premiers from 1965 to 2021, finding that the highest single year of per-person spending on record was under Premier Louis Robichaud, with a 17.3 per cent average annual change in per person spending.

Stress Testing the Federal Fiscal Anchor

— Mar 16, 2023

Stress Testing the Federal Fiscal Anchor finds that that there is a 30 per cent chance that the federal debt to GDP ratio will increase over a 10-year time period, meaning the federal government would fail to achieve its core fiscal goal.

The Cost of Business Subsidies in Canada

— Mar 14, 2023

The Cost of Business Subsides in Canada finds that from 2007 to 2019 (the latest year of available pre-COVID data), federal, provincial and local governments spent more than $350 billion on business subsidies—also known as corporate welfare.

Prime Ministers and Government Spending: 2023 Edition

— Mar 9, 2023

Prime Ministers and Government Spending:2023 Edition is a new study that finds federal spending reached $19,208 per-person in 2020-21, which represents the single highest level in the country’s history, with the current federal government is on track to record the five highest levels of per-person spending (2018 to 2022) in Canadian history.

Ontario Premiers and Provincial Government Spending

— Feb 28, 2023

Ontario Premiers and Provincial Government Spending is a new study that reviews annual per-person program spending (inflation-adjusted) by Ontario premiers from 1965 to 2021, and finds that the highest single year of per-person spending on record was under Premier Doug Ford in 2020.

Saskatchewan Premiers and Provincial Government Spending

— Feb 28, 2023

Saskatchewan Premiers and Provincial Government Spending is a new study that reviews annual per-person program spending (inflation-adjusted) by Saskatchewan premiers from 1965 to 2021, and finds that the highest single year of per-person spending on record was under Premier Scott Moe in 2021, even excluding COVID-related spending.

Recent Government Spending Commentaries and Blog Posts

Spending sprees by governments across Canada help fuel inflation and high interest rates

Jake Fuss, Grady Munro

Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, December 6, 2023

Between 2024/25 and 2027/28, the federal government has increased projected spending by $30.7 billion more than previously forecasted.

Saskatchewan’s surprise deficit should serve as warning for Alberta

Tegan Hill

The provincial government revised its $1.0 billion projected budget surplus to a $250.5 million projected deficit.

Ottawa’s red ink leaves little room for defence spending commitments

Alex Whalen, Jake Fuss

Appeared in National Newswatch, November 25, 2023

The federal government wants Canada’s military to cut $1 billion from its budget.

Federal government points to misleading debt rankings to justify debt explosion

Jake Fuss, Grady Munro

Appeared in Business in Vancouver, November 23, 2023

In reality, Canada’s government debt is high relative to other comparable countries.

Federal government maintains high levels of spending and abandons fiscal anchor

Jake Fuss, Grady Munro

Projected federal spending from 2024 to 2027 is now $30.7 billion higher than previous forecasts.

Federal government poised to pile on more spending and debt

Jake Fuss, Grady Munro

Appeared in the Financial Post, November 16, 2023

Since 2014/15, federal government debt interest costs have nearly doubled.

Quebec’s tuition hike punishes out-of-province students, rejects spirit of federal cash transfer

Grady Munro, Jake Fuss

Appeared in the Toronto Sun, November 2, 2023

The province will receive an expected $1.37 billion from the Canada Social Transfer in 2023/24.

PBO report underscores Ottawa’s irresponsible spending spree

Jake Fuss, Grady Munro

Appeared in the Toronto Sun, October 18, 2023

Federal spending in 2023/24 will increase by $5.6 billion more than the government’s previous projection.

Time for governments to boldly reduce government spending

Matthew Lau

Appeared in the Toronto Sun, October 4, 2023

There’s nothing peculiar about letter delivery, trains, television and radio programs, or alcohol sales that justifies governmental operation.

Prime minister’s threat to grocery chains won’t solve food price problem

Jason Clemens, Milagros Palacios

Appeared in the Financial Post, September 21, 2023

A serious approach to food inflation would focus on reducing costs to producers and encouraging greater supply.