Get closer to our work with Signal49 Research's Leadership Perspectives series. Each episode, we sit down with senior Signal49 leaders and researchers to discuss issues that affect Canadians. Topics include economics, education, sustainability, HR, and Indigenous and Northern perspectives. We're proud to be Canada's foremost independent, evidence-based applied research organization. Since 1954 we have provided leaders and decision-makers with the economic analysis, applied research, data,…
From lagging productivity growth and investment gaps, to regulatory hurdles, labour shortages, and changing global trade dynamics, Canada’s lagging competitiveness is coming under increasing scrutiny. How can we position ourselves for stronger, more sustainable growth? In this episode, we’re focusing on a critical issue: Canada’s competitiveness in a rapidly shifting global economy. We know that…
In this episode we explore the changing relationship around energy and potential for Canada. We delve into what leading economists think we should take away from the Memorandum of Understanding between the Alberta and Federal governments might mean for moving energy investments forward. We also delve into what it will take to get spending in energy flowing again after the stagnation over the past…
In this episode we explore the outcomes of the federal 2025 budget. We explore what has been announced what it means for communities, and how these decisions will shape the next five years. We’ll explore the tension between ambitious investments and rising deficits, and dig into the long-term implications for Canadians. We'll ask our leading economists whether there will be enough generational…
In this episode we dive into a major shift in the world of economics: the rise of high-frequency data. From job postings and air traffic stats to real-time payments and mobility trends, economists are increasingly turning to non-traditional data sources to make sense of a rapidly evolving economy. Unlike traditional economic indicators that are released annually or quarterly, high-frequency data…
Economics Matters Ep. 20: Canada’s Fiscal Outlook with Cory Renner and Richard Forbes
Deficits, debts, tariffs, trade, taxes, Trump .... Sorting through the fiscal picture for the country, while never easy, has become much more complicated in 2025. Joining us for this episode are Cory Renner, Associate Director, Economic Forecasting and Richard Forbes, Principal Economist to talk to us about Canada’s fiscal outlook. Where government spending is and where it’s going. We discuss the…
Economics Matters Ep. 19: Fixing Canada’s Problems with Competition with Vass Bednar and Denise Hearn
Some argue that market concentration in their sectors is inevitable. They say Canada’s small population, vast geography, and global competition create natural monopolies —and that protecting their dominance is necessary to build globally competitive companies. But is that true? In this episode, the co-authors of the book The Big Fix: How Companies Capture Markets and Harm Canadians, Denise Hearn…
Growth is a central concept in economics. Economies must continue to grow to generate more capital, improve labour productivity and create higher standards of living for populations. But, in 2024, the experiment in growing through a dramatic increase in our immigration levels has called into question whether too much, too fast is actually decreasing our standard of living. At what point does rapid…
As we experience the hottest summer on record, reaching our Net Zero goals has become one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Canada's target is to achieve a net-zero economy—either emitting no greenhouse gases or offsetting any emissions—by 2050, with critical milestones set for 2030. In this episode, we examine Canada’s progress toward these goals and explore how the economics of this…
The last four years have brought many changes to the ways in which we live, work and shop. These new habits are reshaping cities and the road to the new normal is proving very bumpy for cities across the country. In this episode, our guests explore how cities are reinventing themselves and talk about the critical role cities and the people and businesses that comprise them form the backbone of our…
The April 2024 federal budget is like game seven of a Stanley Cup playoff run for economists. It’s a critical time when decisions on spending and taxation are made that can help or hinder our economic direction. In this special episode we call on various members of The Conference Board of Canada’s economic forecasting unit to help make sense of the key announcements in the budget. Join us to hear…
