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Friday, September 13, 2024
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David Crane

David Crane is an award-winning journalist with special interests in the economics of globalization, innovation, sustainable development and social equity.

Canada sends message that we are part of ‘America First’

  • On EVs, the feds ignored the process of implementing trade defensive measures, and instead adopted a secretive process to simply appropriate an arbitrary U.S.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 9, 2024
Finance Minster Chrystia Freeland has said that ongoing talks could lead to additional protectionist measures in other sectors, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada sends message that we are part of ‘America First’

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 9, 2024
  • On EVs, the feds ignored the process of implementing trade defensive measures, and instead adopted a secretive process to simply appropriate an arbitrary U.S.

Canada sends message that we are part of ‘America First’

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 9, 2024
  • On EVs, the feds ignored the process of implementing trade defensive measures, and instead adopted a secretive process to simply appropriate an arbitrary U.S.
Finance Minster Chrystia Freeland has said that ongoing talks could lead to additional protectionist measures in other sectors, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada sends message that we are part of ‘America First’

  • On EVs, the feds ignored the process of implementing trade defensive measures, and instead adopted a secretive process to simply appropriate an arbitrary U.S.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 9, 2024
Finance Minster Chrystia Freeland has said that ongoing talks could lead to additional protectionist measures in other sectors, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada sends message that we are part of ‘America First’

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 9, 2024
  • On EVs, the feds ignored the process of implementing trade defensive measures, and instead adopted a secretive process to simply appropriate an arbitrary U.S.

Canada sends message that we are part of ‘America First’

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 9, 2024
  • On EVs, the feds ignored the process of implementing trade defensive measures, and instead adopted a secretive process to simply appropriate an arbitrary U.S.
Finance Minster Chrystia Freeland has said that ongoing talks could lead to additional protectionist measures in other sectors, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Protectionism is not the answer on Chinese EVs

  • Our government, supported by the official opposition, is doing more harm than good by ignoring due process and undermining the global rules-based system.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 2, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's announcement that Canada will match the United States in tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles shows the top priority in our foreign policy is to keep the Americans happy, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Protectionism is not the answer on Chinese EVs

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 2, 2024
  • Our government, supported by the official opposition, is doing more harm than good by ignoring due process and undermining the global rules-based system.

Protectionism is not the answer on Chinese EVs

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | September 2, 2024
  • Our government, supported by the official opposition, is doing more harm than good by ignoring due process and undermining the global rules-based system.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's announcement that Canada will match the United States in tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles shows the top priority in our foreign policy is to keep the Americans happy, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Green transition offers a chance for Canadian wealth creation

  • Providing patient, long-term capital for our future winners is critical.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 26, 2024
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. It’s vital for government to be a source of patient capital if we are to successfully grow our promising firms, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Green transition offers a chance for Canadian wealth creation

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 26, 2024
  • Providing patient, long-term capital for our future winners is critical.

Green transition offers a chance for Canadian wealth creation

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 26, 2024
  • Providing patient, long-term capital for our future winners is critical.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. It’s vital for government to be a source of patient capital if we are to successfully grow our promising firms, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs a new growth agenda

  • More Canadian talent will be motivated to move south unless we can do much better on innovation and productivity.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 19, 2024
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, pictured in a scrum on the Hill. Dynamic growth should be our national priority. We know we have much talent and potential in the Canadian population for remarkable innovation, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs a new growth agenda

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 19, 2024
  • More Canadian talent will be motivated to move south unless we can do much better on innovation and productivity.

Canada needs a new growth agenda

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 19, 2024
  • More Canadian talent will be motivated to move south unless we can do much better on innovation and productivity.
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, pictured in a scrum on the Hill. Dynamic growth should be our national priority. We know we have much talent and potential in the Canadian population for remarkable innovation, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada has to focus on becoming a genuine innovation nation

  • If Canadians want a better-performing economy, then much more attention will have to be focused on innovation-driven productivity, skills training, and bringing more Canadians
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 12, 2024
Another Statistics Canada study published earlier this year—Canada’s Gross Domestic Product Per Capita: Perspectives on the Return to Trend—underlined that improvements in real GDP per capita can come from three sources: labour productivity, the number of hours worked, and the percentage of the population that is working, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada has to focus on becoming a genuine innovation nation

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 12, 2024
  • If Canadians want a better-performing economy, then much more attention will have to be focused on innovation-driven productivity, skills training, and bringing more Canadians

Canada has to focus on becoming a genuine innovation nation

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 12, 2024
  • If Canadians want a better-performing economy, then much more attention will have to be focused on innovation-driven productivity, skills training, and bringing more Canadians
Another Statistics Canada study published earlier this year—Canada’s Gross Domestic Product Per Capita: Perspectives on the Return to Trend—underlined that improvements in real GDP per capita can come from three sources: labour productivity, the number of hours worked, and the percentage of the population that is working, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trump administration would put ‘robust emphasis’ on fossil fuels

  • Donald Trump would once again pull the U.S. out of global climate commitments and negotiations under the 2015 Paris Accord, recently calling it a 'rip-off
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 1, 2024
Both the U.S. presidential contender, Donald Trump, left, and Canada’s potential new prime minister, Pierre Poilievre, have a record of downplaying the seriousness of climate change and favouring the interests of the oil and gas industry, writes David Crane. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trump administration would put ‘robust emphasis’ on fossil fuels

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 1, 2024
  • Donald Trump would once again pull the U.S. out of global climate commitments and negotiations under the 2015 Paris Accord, recently calling it a 'rip-off

Trump administration would put ‘robust emphasis’ on fossil fuels

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | August 1, 2024
  • Donald Trump would once again pull the U.S. out of global climate commitments and negotiations under the 2015 Paris Accord, recently calling it a 'rip-off
Both the U.S. presidential contender, Donald Trump, left, and Canada’s potential new prime minister, Pierre Poilievre, have a record of downplaying the seriousness of climate change and favouring the interests of the oil and gas industry, writes David Crane. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

We need to seize our potential now for young Canadians

  • There remain too many troubling signs that the concern is still not enough to redefine our priorities to ensure young Canadians have good cause
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 29, 2024
The latest Bank of Canada quarterly survey of the business outlook found that the majority of businesses are lowering planned wage increases over the next 12 months. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

We need to seize our potential now for young Canadians

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 29, 2024
  • There remain too many troubling signs that the concern is still not enough to redefine our priorities to ensure young Canadians have good cause

We need to seize our potential now for young Canadians

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 29, 2024
  • There remain too many troubling signs that the concern is still not enough to redefine our priorities to ensure young Canadians have good cause
The latest Bank of Canada quarterly survey of the business outlook found that the majority of businesses are lowering planned wage increases over the next 12 months. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is Canada broken? The IMF says no, but we do need to boost our productivity

  • A new IMF report provides a balanced view of where Canada is at than the mangled exchanges and accusations between our supposedly adult parliamentarians.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 22, 2024
Peace Towe
Peace Towe
Each year, the IMF—under Article IV of the IMF Articles of Agreement—sends a staff team to Canada to collect financial and economic information, talks to officials and others, and makes an assessment of our performance and policies. It latest report on Canada—Staff Report for the 2024 Article IV Consultation—has just been published. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is Canada broken? The IMF says no, but we do need to boost our productivity

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 22, 2024
  • A new IMF report provides a balanced view of where Canada is at than the mangled exchanges and accusations between our supposedly adult parliamentarians.

Is Canada broken? The IMF says no, but we do need to boost our productivity

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 22, 2024
  • A new IMF report provides a balanced view of where Canada is at than the mangled exchanges and accusations between our supposedly adult parliamentarians.
Peace Towe
Each year, the IMF—under Article IV of the IMF Articles of Agreement—sends a staff team to Canada to collect financial and economic information, talks to officials and others, and makes an assessment of our performance and policies. It latest report on Canada—Staff Report for the 2024 Article IV Consultation—has just been published. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs a fresh approach on innovation

  • Innovation is about bringing new ideas to market. This, built on technological progress and investment in intangibles, is the key source of productivity-boosting economic
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 15, 2024
Minister François-Philippe Champagne
Minister François-Philippe Champagne
Federal Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne pictured recently in a Hill scrum. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs a fresh approach on innovation

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 15, 2024
  • Innovation is about bringing new ideas to market. This, built on technological progress and investment in intangibles, is the key source of productivity-boosting economic

Canada needs a fresh approach on innovation

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 15, 2024
  • Innovation is about bringing new ideas to market. This, built on technological progress and investment in intangibles, is the key source of productivity-boosting economic
Minister François-Philippe Champagne
Federal Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne pictured recently in a Hill scrum. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Bumpy road ahead for CUSMA negotiations

  • Would it be better to have a bad deal than no deal at all? The very question would test Canadian unity.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 8, 2024
Presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden. A Trump administration may be quite ready to get rid of CUSMA, while a Biden—or other Democratic—administration would nonetheless push hard for more and more concessions by Canada, writes David Crane. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Bumpy road ahead for CUSMA negotiations

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 8, 2024
  • Would it be better to have a bad deal than no deal at all? The very question would test Canadian unity.

Bumpy road ahead for CUSMA negotiations

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 8, 2024
  • Would it be better to have a bad deal than no deal at all? The very question would test Canadian unity.
Presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden. A Trump administration may be quite ready to get rid of CUSMA, while a Biden—or other Democratic—administration would nonetheless push hard for more and more concessions by Canada, writes David Crane. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

What this country needs is more pride and hope, especially right now

  • What's missing is a strong sense of patriotism—a pride in what we have accomplished as a country, a love of country, and a commitment
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 1, 2024
A parachuter, pictured July 1, 2022, in Ottawa. In a memorable 1999 speech, former prime minister John Turner, spoke as a Canadian patriot. 'It is our good fortune as Canadians to occupy the most beautiful land on earth.' But 'it is our good sense which has made this country one of the most free and open democracies in the world.' The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

What this country needs is more pride and hope, especially right now

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 1, 2024
  • What's missing is a strong sense of patriotism—a pride in what we have accomplished as a country, a love of country, and a commitment

What this country needs is more pride and hope, especially right now

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | July 1, 2024
  • What's missing is a strong sense of patriotism—a pride in what we have accomplished as a country, a love of country, and a commitment
A parachuter, pictured July 1, 2022, in Ottawa. In a memorable 1999 speech, former prime minister John Turner, spoke as a Canadian patriot. 'It is our good fortune as Canadians to occupy the most beautiful land on earth.' But 'it is our good sense which has made this country one of the most free and open democracies in the world.' The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

New report shows Canada’s economic weaknesses date back to 2006, covering Harper and Trudeau years

  • The Bennett Jones report sets out some directions in taxation, competition, immigration, investment, and the green energy transition, but no policy map. It also
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 24, 2024
Despite some gaps, a recent Bennett Jones report gets it right when it calls for a 'laser-focused' strategy for productivity growth in Canada, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

New report shows Canada’s economic weaknesses date back to 2006, covering Harper and Trudeau years

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 24, 2024
  • The Bennett Jones report sets out some directions in taxation, competition, immigration, investment, and the green energy transition, but no policy map. It also

New report shows Canada’s economic weaknesses date back to 2006, covering Harper and Trudeau years

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 24, 2024
  • The Bennett Jones report sets out some directions in taxation, competition, immigration, investment, and the green energy transition, but no policy map. It also
Despite some gaps, a recent Bennett Jones report gets it right when it calls for a 'laser-focused' strategy for productivity growth in Canada, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Our political leaders are afraid to confront Canadians with the challenges we face for a better future

  • The big issues facing Canada will likely be sidelined since neither Liberals nor Conservatives want to face up to them even though this country’s
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 13, 2024
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Justin. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Our political leaders are afraid to confront Canadians with the challenges we face for a better future

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 13, 2024
  • The big issues facing Canada will likely be sidelined since neither Liberals nor Conservatives want to face up to them even though this country’s

Our political leaders are afraid to confront Canadians with the challenges we face for a better future

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 13, 2024
  • The big issues facing Canada will likely be sidelined since neither Liberals nor Conservatives want to face up to them even though this country’s
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Justin. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Canada can do better than just being a branch-plant economy

  • We need to be more innovative. But innovation takes place in companies, and if you don’t have them, you don’t have the innovation. That’s our
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 10, 2024
Federal Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, pictured in a scrum on the Hill. 'The problem is that Canada is pursuing an alternative economic strategy—relying on foreign multinationals to locate here in return for massive taxpayer subsidies,' writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada can do better than just being a branch-plant economy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 10, 2024
  • We need to be more innovative. But innovation takes place in companies, and if you don’t have them, you don’t have the innovation. That’s our

Canada can do better than just being a branch-plant economy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 10, 2024
  • We need to be more innovative. But innovation takes place in companies, and if you don’t have them, you don’t have the innovation. That’s our
Federal Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, pictured in a scrum on the Hill. 'The problem is that Canada is pursuing an alternative economic strategy—relying on foreign multinationals to locate here in return for massive taxpayer subsidies,' writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Longer-term trends on climate change are truly ominous

  • We know that life on Earth will become more difficult if we fail to act with a heightened sense of urgency,  But we also
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 3, 2024
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault at the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Ottawa on April 23, 2024. Guilbeault said in a 2023 report that 'Climate scientists are unequivocally telling us that we must drastically reduce our emissions by 2030 … if we are to leave a habitable world to our children.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Longer-term trends on climate change are truly ominous

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 3, 2024
  • We know that life on Earth will become more difficult if we fail to act with a heightened sense of urgency,  But we also

Longer-term trends on climate change are truly ominous

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | June 3, 2024
  • We know that life on Earth will become more difficult if we fail to act with a heightened sense of urgency,  But we also
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault at the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Ottawa on April 23, 2024. Guilbeault said in a 2023 report that 'Climate scientists are unequivocally telling us that we must drastically reduce our emissions by 2030 … if we are to leave a habitable world to our children.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada faces a dangerous tipping point on its economy

  • We are not developing the kind of industries—and hence the kind of jobs, productivity and wealth—we need to preserve, sustain and improve the kind
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 27, 2024
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne speaks with reporters outside the Liberal caucus meeting in the West Block on May 8, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada faces a dangerous tipping point on its economy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 27, 2024
  • We are not developing the kind of industries—and hence the kind of jobs, productivity and wealth—we need to preserve, sustain and improve the kind

Canada faces a dangerous tipping point on its economy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 27, 2024
  • We are not developing the kind of industries—and hence the kind of jobs, productivity and wealth—we need to preserve, sustain and improve the kind
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne speaks with reporters outside the Liberal caucus meeting in the West Block on May 8, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Innovation will continue with or without capital gains tax hike

  • It’s unlikely that Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Steve Jobs, or any of their early-stage investors were fixated on the capital gains tax rate when
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 20, 2024
The current scare-mongering on capital gains is a needless distortion, but that doesn’t let Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured, off the hook, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Innovation will continue with or without capital gains tax hike

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 20, 2024
  • It’s unlikely that Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Steve Jobs, or any of their early-stage investors were fixated on the capital gains tax rate when

Innovation will continue with or without capital gains tax hike

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 20, 2024
  • It’s unlikely that Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Steve Jobs, or any of their early-stage investors were fixated on the capital gains tax rate when
The current scare-mongering on capital gains is a needless distortion, but that doesn’t let Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured, off the hook, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland should find a better way to achieve tax reform

  • Chrystia Freeland's tax changes smack much more of poetical expediency or desperation, dressed up as a campaign to single out the richest for not
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 13, 2024
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland released the 2024 federal budget last month. The venture-capital industry and tech companies argue her tax measures will lead to a decline in capital available to aspiring tech firms. So far, they have offered little hard evidence that Freeland’s plan would discourage investment, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland should find a better way to achieve tax reform

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 13, 2024
  • Chrystia Freeland's tax changes smack much more of poetical expediency or desperation, dressed up as a campaign to single out the richest for not

Freeland should find a better way to achieve tax reform

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 13, 2024
  • Chrystia Freeland's tax changes smack much more of poetical expediency or desperation, dressed up as a campaign to single out the richest for not
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland released the 2024 federal budget last month. The venture-capital industry and tech companies argue her tax measures will lead to a decline in capital available to aspiring tech firms. So far, they have offered little hard evidence that Freeland’s plan would discourage investment, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Growth has stalled in Canada

  • Canada’s productivity performance is weak, our innovation is inadequate, and we seem too pessimistic about the future. 
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 2, 2024
Finance Minister Chrystia Freland recently boasted Canada is ‘driving the kind of economic growth that will ensure every generation of Canadians can reach their full potential.’ I am not convinced, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Growth has stalled in Canada

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 2, 2024
  • Canada’s productivity performance is weak, our innovation is inadequate, and we seem too pessimistic about the future. 

Growth has stalled in Canada

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | May 2, 2024
  • Canada’s productivity performance is weak, our innovation is inadequate, and we seem too pessimistic about the future. 
Finance Minister Chrystia Freland recently boasted Canada is ‘driving the kind of economic growth that will ensure every generation of Canadians can reach their full potential.’ I am not convinced, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Budget’s AI investment is Canada playing catch-up

  • A plan has to be more than just a litany of fresh promises in one budget after another. Where is the strategy, and what
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 29, 2024
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne. The $2.4-billion the budget proposes to spend on AI is a long-overdue investment to boost computing power essential to keep us in the AI game, not a bold statement of AI leadership, writes David Crane.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Budget’s AI investment is Canada playing catch-up

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 29, 2024
  • A plan has to be more than just a litany of fresh promises in one budget after another. Where is the strategy, and what

Budget’s AI investment is Canada playing catch-up

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 29, 2024
  • A plan has to be more than just a litany of fresh promises in one budget after another. Where is the strategy, and what
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne. The $2.4-billion the budget proposes to spend on AI is a long-overdue investment to boost computing power essential to keep us in the AI game, not a bold statement of AI leadership, writes David Crane.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Budget falls short in preparing Canada for difficult times

  • The government presented another transactional budget that seeks to send an 'all’s well' kind of message when we need a frank and strategic budget
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 22, 2024
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland presented a budget on April 16 that failed to spell out to Canadians the reality of the challenges we face, and what is required to make things better. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Budget falls short in preparing Canada for difficult times

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 22, 2024
  • The government presented another transactional budget that seeks to send an 'all’s well' kind of message when we need a frank and strategic budget

Budget falls short in preparing Canada for difficult times

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 22, 2024
  • The government presented another transactional budget that seeks to send an 'all’s well' kind of message when we need a frank and strategic budget
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland presented a budget on April 16 that failed to spell out to Canadians the reality of the challenges we face, and what is required to make things better. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau and Poilievre aren’t focused on what needs to be done

  • Canada urgently needs a bold growth strategy if we are to face the future with confidence, rather than channelling down into a despairing view
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 15, 2024
Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured on Feb. 6, 2024, will table the federal budget on April 16 at 4 p.m. in the House of Commons. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau and Poilievre aren’t focused on what needs to be done

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 15, 2024
  • Canada urgently needs a bold growth strategy if we are to face the future with confidence, rather than channelling down into a despairing view

Trudeau and Poilievre aren’t focused on what needs to be done

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 15, 2024
  • Canada urgently needs a bold growth strategy if we are to face the future with confidence, rather than channelling down into a despairing view
Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured on Feb. 6, 2024, will table the federal budget on April 16 at 4 p.m. in the House of Commons. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Foreign investment rules designed for an economy that no longer exists

  • Most of Canada’s young businesses with growth potential and proprietary technology can easily be acquired without consideration of the wider consequences for the country's future.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 8, 2024
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada appears to be more fixated on the "wheat and steel" economy rather than the intangibles economy, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Foreign investment rules designed for an economy that no longer exists

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 8, 2024
  • Most of Canada’s young businesses with growth potential and proprietary technology can easily be acquired without consideration of the wider consequences for the country's future.

Foreign investment rules designed for an economy that no longer exists

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 8, 2024
  • Most of Canada’s young businesses with growth potential and proprietary technology can easily be acquired without consideration of the wider consequences for the country's future.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada appears to be more fixated on the "wheat and steel" economy rather than the intangibles economy, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Issues facing young Canadians have been ignored for too long

  • Young people's high level of unhappiness should be taken very seriously, not just because of their lack of confidence in their futures, but also
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 1, 2024
Housing Minister Sean Fraser. Younger Canadians may be giving up on the aspiration of home ownership because of high costs, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Issues facing young Canadians have been ignored for too long

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 1, 2024
  • Young people's high level of unhappiness should be taken very seriously, not just because of their lack of confidence in their futures, but also

Issues facing young Canadians have been ignored for too long

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | April 1, 2024
  • Young people's high level of unhappiness should be taken very seriously, not just because of their lack of confidence in their futures, but also
Housing Minister Sean Fraser. Younger Canadians may be giving up on the aspiration of home ownership because of high costs, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Governments must ensure policies and funding can protect and enhance Canadian culture

  • We must design a 21st century framework for a world where technology has already upended many our cultural policies, and threatens to do so
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 25, 2024
Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge. It is critical that the role of independent Canadian producers be enhanced, and that the ownership of copyright go to domestic production companies, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Governments must ensure policies and funding can protect and enhance Canadian culture

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 25, 2024
  • We must design a 21st century framework for a world where technology has already upended many our cultural policies, and threatens to do so

Governments must ensure policies and funding can protect and enhance Canadian culture

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 25, 2024
  • We must design a 21st century framework for a world where technology has already upended many our cultural policies, and threatens to do so
Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge. It is critical that the role of independent Canadian producers be enhanced, and that the ownership of copyright go to domestic production companies, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Financial system risks brain drain of innovative young companies

  • Our system is still geared to an economy focused on investment in tangibles such as buildings, machinery, and equipment.
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 18, 2024
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured at a Liberal caucus meeting on the Hill, could take a first step in her next budget to reform our financial system, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Financial system risks brain drain of innovative young companies

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 18, 2024
  • Our system is still geared to an economy focused on investment in tangibles such as buildings, machinery, and equipment.

Financial system risks brain drain of innovative young companies

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 18, 2024
  • Our system is still geared to an economy focused on investment in tangibles such as buildings, machinery, and equipment.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured at a Liberal caucus meeting on the Hill, could take a first step in her next budget to reform our financial system, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

We’re stuck in much lower global innovation rankings

  • But no one, it seems, has actually calculated what it would take to make Canada a world leader in innovation. 
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 11, 2024
The Council of Canadian Innovators says in the April 16 federal budget Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured, should allow the Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax credit to boost taxable capital to $70-million. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

We’re stuck in much lower global innovation rankings

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 11, 2024
  • But no one, it seems, has actually calculated what it would take to make Canada a world leader in innovation. 

We’re stuck in much lower global innovation rankings

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 11, 2024
  • But no one, it seems, has actually calculated what it would take to make Canada a world leader in innovation. 
The Council of Canadian Innovators says in the April 16 federal budget Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured, should allow the Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax credit to boost taxable capital to $70-million. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
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Why we have a terribly imbalanced economy

  • Canadians now have the highest household debt relative to household income in the G7, and one of the poorest performances in innovation and productivity
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 4, 2024
Pedestrians cross Queen Street in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 5, 2024. A Statistics Canada report found that investment per worker by Canadian businesses declined by about 20 per cent between 2006 and 2021, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why we have a terribly imbalanced economy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 4, 2024
  • Canadians now have the highest household debt relative to household income in the G7, and one of the poorest performances in innovation and productivity

Why we have a terribly imbalanced economy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 4, 2024
  • Canadians now have the highest household debt relative to household income in the G7, and one of the poorest performances in innovation and productivity
Pedestrians cross Queen Street in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 5, 2024. A Statistics Canada report found that investment per worker by Canadian businesses declined by about 20 per cent between 2006 and 2021, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why we have a terribly imbalanced economy

  • Canadians now have the highest household debt relative to household income in the G7, and one of the poorest performances in innovation and productivity
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 4, 2024
Pedestrians cross Queen Street in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 5, 2024. A Statistics Canada report found that investment per worker by Canadian businesses declined by about 20 per cent between 2006 and 2021, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why we have a terribly imbalanced economy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 4, 2024
  • Canadians now have the highest household debt relative to household income in the G7, and one of the poorest performances in innovation and productivity

Why we have a terribly imbalanced economy

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | March 4, 2024
  • Canadians now have the highest household debt relative to household income in the G7, and one of the poorest performances in innovation and productivity
Pedestrians cross Queen Street in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 5, 2024. A Statistics Canada report found that investment per worker by Canadian businesses declined by about 20 per cent between 2006 and 2021, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs its own productivity commission

  • We need to build a new economy where innovation and productivity make real increases in per capita well-being in income and wealth generation to
Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 22, 2024
Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, pictured in Ottawa on May 4, 2023, is an unlikely future prime minister, writes David Crane, but has the disciplined mind and broad experience needed to set a far-reaching research agenda and impose high standards for analysis. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Canada needs its own productivity commission

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 22, 2024
  • We need to build a new economy where innovation and productivity make real increases in per capita well-being in income and wealth generation to

Canada needs its own productivity commission

Opinion | BY DAVID CRANE | February 22, 2024
  • We need to build a new economy where innovation and productivity make real increases in per capita well-being in income and wealth generation to
Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, pictured in Ottawa on May 4, 2023, is an unlikely future prime minister, writes David Crane, but has the disciplined mind and broad experience needed to set a far-reaching research agenda and impose high standards for analysis. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia