Fraser Institute

Reality of socialism in Poland serves as a stark warning to the 50% of young Canadians who favour socialism

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VANCOUVER—Younger Canadians aged 18 to 24—50 per cent of whom favour socialism as their preferred economic system—need to understand the real misery socialism inflicted on countries that tried it such as Poland. This is the main lesson of an upcoming book to be published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank, working in partnership with think tanks in the U.S., Australia and the U.K.

Ottawa-Gatineau metropolitan area had highest employment incomes nationwide in 2019

TORONTO—Canada’s national capital region had the highest median employment incomes in the country in 2019—the last year unaffected by COVID—while energy-centred census metropolitan areas (CMAs) also rank high, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Canada’s high government spending and debt accumulation did not produce economic growth during COVID

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VANCOUVER—During the pandemic, despite high levels of government spending and debt accumulation, Canada’s economy underperformed compared to most other advanced countries, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“While governments across Canada, particularly the federal government, increased spending markedly during COVID, it’s now clear we didn’t get much bang for our buck,” said Livio Di Matteo, professor of economics at Lakehead University, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and author of Global Aftermath: The Economic and Fiscal Effects of COVID in Canada and the World.

Medical wait times cost Canadian patients almost $3.6 billion in lost wages last year

VANCOUVER—Long waits for surgery and medical treatment cost Canadians almost $3.6 billion in lost wages and productivity last year, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Preliminary data suggest that an estimated 1.2 million patients waited for medically necessary treatment last year, and each lost an estimated $2,925 (on average) due to lost wages and reduced productivity during working hours.

Saskatchewan 3rd most attractive jurisdiction worldwide for mining investment; Newfoundland & Labrador and Quebec also in global top 10

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VANCOUVER— Saskatchewan remains Canada’s top-rated jurisdiction for mining investment, according to the Annual Survey of Mining Companies released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Nevada is the top-ranked jurisdiction worldwide for mining investment in this year’s survey, followed by Western Australia.

Higher deficit-financed spending by provincial governments leads to 26% higher taxes and 10% higher debt interest costs, historical analysis shows

CALGARY—Despite misperceptions that government deficits have no cost, higher deficit-financed spending by provincial governments over the past 50 years has led to higher taxes and higher debt-servicing costs, according

to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank.

Increasing number of Ontarians choosing independent schools over government schools

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TORONTO—Enrolment at independent schools in Ontario—as a share of total enrolment—increased over a recent 19-year period, while the share of enrolment in government schools declined, according to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“For their children’s education, parents in Ontario are increasingly choosing options outside the government school system,” said Michael Zwaagstra, senior fellow with the Fraser Institute and co-author of Where Our Students Are Educated: Measuring Student Enrolment in Canada, 2022.

Government workers across Canada receive 8.5% higher wages, on average, than comparable private-sector workers

VANCOUVER—The wage premium and more generous benefits that government workers in Canada enjoy over their private-sector counterparts is one area governments could look to reduce costs following the recession, finds a

new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

More housing was built in Canada during the 1970s than now

TORONTO—Despite rising population and growing demand, more housing was constructed in Canadian cities during the 1970s than what is presently being built, according to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“The reality is simple: Canada is not building enough homes to keep up with population growth or basic demand,” said Steve Lafleur, senior fellow with the Fraser Institute and co-author of Canada’s Housing Mismatch: Canadians want ground-oriented homes, but not enough are being built.

Federal government’s failure to restrain spending undermines Bank of Canada’s effort to tame inflation

VANCOUVER—The federal government’s decision to increase already high levels of spending and continued budget deficits will hinder the Bank of Canada’s efforts to tame inflation, finds a new study released today by the

Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank.

Canada can tackle growing backlog of surgeries with funding reforms and expanded role for private-care providers within public system

VANCOUVER—Unlike Canada, other universal health-care systems around the world have managed to reduce their surgical backlogs by using the private sector to their advantage and incentivizing greater efficiency through

alternative funding models, according to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Household incomes in Windsor and London fell from top third in Canada to the bottom third over fifteen years

TORONTO—Between 2005 and 2019, large cities in Southwestern Ontario—in particular Windsor and London—have gone from being amongst the most prosperous cities in Canada (as measured by median household income) to being amongst the least prosperous, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

30 per cent chance Ottawa fails to meet its fiscal goal over 10-year period; likelihood of failure jumps to 53 per cent over 20 years

Stress Testing the Federal Fiscal Anchor

Ontario government spent more than $70 billion on corporate welfare from 2007 to 2019

VANCOUVER—The Ontario government spent $73.4 billion (inflation-adjusted) subsidizing businesses over a 13-year period, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank.

“These subsidies for businesses—also known as corporate welfare—come with huge costs to government budgets and taxpayers while doing little if anything to stimulate economic growth,” said Tegan Hill, economist at the Fraser Institute and co-author of The Cost of Business Subsides in Canada.

Per person federal spending in 2022 expected to exceed highest level of spending pre-COVID; exceeds $11,000—5.0 per cent higher than 2019

VANCOUVER—Per-person federal program (inflation adjusted) spending is expected to reach $11,498 in 2022-23—5 per cent higher than in 2019, pre-COVID, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“The level of per person spending continues to be unprecedented for Canadian history even when compared to recessions and wartime, excluding the recent COVID crisis,” commented Jake Fuss, associate director of fiscal studies at the Fraser Institute and author of Prime Ministers and Government Spending: 2023 Edition.

New report finds more than 40 countries maintained restrictions on women’s economic rights from 2018 to 2020; 13 countries lifted restrictions

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TORONTO—Despite improvements worldwide, 42 countries continued to have restrictions on the economic rights of women over a recent two-year period while 13 countries lifted legal restrictions on women’s economic rights, finds a new study released by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank, in recognition of International Women’s Day, tracks changes in economic freedom for women around the world.

Economic freedom refers to the ability of people to make self-determining economic decisions including the ability to own property, decide what to buy, where to work, whether to start a business, engage in trade, and even open a bank account.

74 per cent of Canadians surveyed believe the average family is being over-taxed by the federal, provincial, and local governments

VANCOUVER—The total tax bill continues to rise for the average Canadian family as 74 per cent of Canadians believe the average family (two or more people) is over-taxed by federal, provincial, and local governments, finds a new report published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“There is a large discrepancy between what the average family actually pays in total taxes versus what Canadians believe the average family should be paying,” said Jake Fuss, associate director of fiscal studies at the Fraser and author of Polling Canadians on Taxes for the Average Family.

Ontario government spending reached highest level on record in 2020 at $11,558 per person

TORONTO—Per-person (inflation-adjusted) program spending in Ontario reached its highest level on record at $11,558 in 2020 (excluding COVID-related spending, per-person spending was $10,226 that year), finds a new report published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“A useful way of measuring a government’s fiscal policy is by reviewing per-person (inflation-adjusted) program spending by various Premiers,” said Tegan Hill, senior economist with the Fraser Institute and co-author of Ontario Premiers and Provincial Government Spending

Tax and regulatory reform key to offsetting effects of Canada’s aging population

VANCOUVER—If policymakers want to offset the effects of Canada’s aging population and subsequent decline in labour market growth, they must make the country more attractive to business investment, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank.

“Over the next few decades, Canada’s population and workforce will age, with likely serious implications for economic growth and living standards unless policymakers take action,” said Steven Globerman, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and co-author of Aging, Capital Investment and Standards of Living.

New poll reveals 50% of Canadians 18-24 favour socialism, but few Canadians willing to pay for it

VANCOUVER—More than 4-in-10 Canadians—and half of younger Canadians aged 18-24—support socialism as their preferred economic system, but an overwhelming majority define socialism as more government spending and programs, and Canadians generally don’t want to pay the higher taxes required to finance it, finds a new study by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank, working in conjunction with think tanks in the U.S., Australia and the U.K.