Why Is Equalization Still Growing? finds that due to a specific rule (created in 2009) within Canada’s equalization program, which transfers federal tax dollars to lower-income provinces, total equalization payments to “have-not” provinces must grow every year, even if the gap between richer and poorer provinces shrinks. As a result, total program costs over the past two years have been $2.1 billion (or 5.7 per cent) larger than they would have been without the rule.

Who Bears the Burden of Property Taxes in Canada’s Largest Metropolitan Areas? analyzes the ratio of municipal and provincial property tax rates (including education) paid by residents, businesses and industries in Canada’s major urban areas. It finds that across the country, but particularly in the cities of Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, businesses pay much higher property tax rates than residents, which can erode competitiveness and lead to business migration, reduced hiring and investment, and even business closures.

The Myths of Local Food Policy: Lessons from the economic and social history of the food system finds that despite common misperceptions, locally-grown food isn’t better for the environment, doesn’t provide a more stable food supply and it isn’t necessarily safer to eat. And locally-grown food often increases prices for consumers since the high cost of land in or near big cities means urban agriculture is expensive.