Le Systemiste

Tag: politics

  • In ‘Fortress North America’ the U.S. wants its tariffs and for us to eat it, too

    This article was published in the Globe and Mail on July 1st, 2026 Discussions about the renewal of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement have begun with Mexico, and details about the U.S. position are starting to emerge. The U.S. is pushing to strengthen rules-of-origin requirements, including a specific minimum threshold for American content. U.S. Trade Representative…

  • Our youth are struggling. What do we owe them – and our future?

    This article was published in the Globe and Mail on June 15th Imagine a young woman, 18, who waited many years to see a professional psychologist as her depression and anxiety disorder worsened and impeded her at school and at work. She never achieved her full potential, and her unresolved traumas will eventually affectthe way…

  • Separatists think independence makes Quebec and Alberta richer. Really?

    This article was published in the Globe and Mail on March 19th, 2026 The separatist pitch, in Quebec and Alberta alike, rests on a seductive premise: cut loose from Ottawa, keep your taxes and prosper. It sounds like common sense. It isn’t. While an independent Quebec or Alberta would be economically viable and relatively wealthy, separation would entail significant…

  • Resiliency vs Efficiency: A Tricky Balance

    A similar version of this article was published in the Globe and Mail on March 11, 2026 The continuing escalation of war in the Middle East and its economic repercussions are another test of how resilient the global economic system is to political shocks. In that context, Ottawa’s recent push to protect some industries, ramp…

  • Canada may have to accept higher U.S. tariffs and unthinkable concessions

    This article was published in the Globe and Mail on February 18, 2026 As the renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement looms, game theory suggests Ottawa may have to accept higher American tariffs and make previously unthinkable concessions. The calculus has fundamentally changed. In previous negotiations, all three countries shared a commitment to the principles of free trade…

  • Carney brings great solutions, but is he misdiagnosing the problem?

    This was published in the Globe and Mail on Nov. 26, 2025 Mark Carney’s economic agenda seeks to promote private investment by building infrastructure and providing more support to business – at least according to his speeches and the most recent budget. This approach echoes Stephen Harper’s 2006 strategy and differs markedly from Justin Trudeau’s vision of building a…

  • Should Carney, the businessman, really run Canada like a business?

    This article was published in the Globe and Mail on October 30th, 2025 As Prime Minister, Mark Carney has adopted the language of the private sector – talking up investments in targeted industries, housing construction, export marketing and public work force reductions. Commentators have said he is running the government like a CEO and will run Canada like a business.…

  • How to reduce youth unemployment

    This article was published in the Globe and Mail on October 16th 2025 Last Friday, labour-force statistics showed the unemployment rate held steady at 7.1 per cent in September and the youth jobless rate rose to 14.7 per cent. The difficulty young Canadians face in finding jobs drew considerable attention this summer. Commentators noted it was the…

  • We can make globalization great again

    Published in the Globe and Mail on August 21st U.S. tariffs, manufacturing subsidies, and anti-immigration and isolationist policies reflect a population discontent with trade and globalization that has been growing since the financial crisis of 2008. While the U.S. government may be the loudest voice against globalization, similar nationalistic policies can be seen in many other countries,…

  • A better way to help the working poor

    This article was published in Policy Options on June 25, 2025: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/june-2025/minimum-wage-alternatives/ Minimum wages are going up – Quebec raised its rate on May 1 and Ontario and British Columbia followed on June 1.  Some see the increases as insufficient to meet current costs of living while others argue they are too costly and will lead to massive layoffs.…