Shows / The CDHI Podcast
The CDHI Podcast
Hosted by Michael Hainsworth, the CDHI Podcast is your go-to source for trusted policy intelligence. From energy to healthcare, inflation and the labour market, this podcast is an ongoing in-depth interview series with leading experts on the most critical economic issues affecting Canadians.
Episodes
- The CDHI Podcast
Ahead of Budget 2026, Will Canada Be Ready for the Next Crisis?
Ottawa has pledged to spend more, but will rising public debt leave Canada unprepared for the next crisis? Economist and recent C.D. Howe Institute author…
- The CDHI Podcast
Why Canada Is Falling Behind and What It Means for Your Paycheque
Canada has a productivity problem and Canadians’ standard of living is at stake. Between 2014 and 2024, Canada’s real GDP per capita grew just 3.48 percent…
- The CDHI Podcast
Could Alberta Really Afford to Separate from Canada?
What would Alberta gain by leaving Canada – and what could it lose? As calls for Alberta independence gain attention, former Alberta premier Jason Kenney and…
- The CDHI Podcast
Is Canada Heading Toward a US-Style Debt Crisis?
What does Canada’s rising debt mean for the next federal budget? Don Drummond joins Michael Hainsworth to discuss Canada’s fiscal outlook, government spending…
- The CDHI Podcast
What Canada Needs to Do to Build Pipelines and Win Back Investor Confidence
In this episode, host Michael Hainsworth sits down with George Vegh and Kate Koplovich to discuss what's holding back Canada's major projects — and what it…
- The CDHI Podcast
What Happens to Canada When the US Debt Crisis Hits?
What would a US debt crisis mean for Canada?Martin Eichenbaum, Charles Moskos Professor of Economics at Northwestern University and International Fellow at the…
- The CDHI Podcast
What Should the Bank of Canada’s Mandate Be? David Dodge and Jeremy Kronick Weigh In
As the Bank of Canada reviews its monetary policy framework, former Governor David Dodge and C.D. Howe Institute President and CEO Jeremy Kronick discuss…
- The CDHI Podcast
CUSMA Negotiations: What’s at Stake for Canada?
What leverage does Canada have heading into upcoming CUSMA negotiations and what is at stake? In this episode, Professor Meredith Lilly, former…
- The CDHI Podcast
Benjamin Tal & Frank Clayton on Canada's Supply Problem, Condo Recession and Development Charges
Is the Greater Toronto Area housing shortage just a supply problem? Despite strong demand for ground-related homes, planning policies have favoured apartment…
- The CDHI Podcast
Is This the End of North American Free Trade?
What leverage does Canada have heading into upcoming CUSMA negotiations and what is at stake? In this episode, Professor Meredith Lilly, former International…
- The CDHI Podcast
Canada's Technical Recession Isn't the Real Problem. A Decade of Economic Weakness Is.
Is Canada in a technical recession? Following the latest GDP figures from Statistics Canada, Business Cycle Council members Jeremy Kronick and Philip Cross…
- The CDHI Podcast
Why Gen Z Can’t Find Jobs Right Now | Labour Economist Tammy Schirle Explains
Youth unemployment in Canada is soaring, entry-level jobs demand years of experience, and many Gen Z graduates are wondering if AI will replace the careers…
- The CDHI Podcast
Does Canada Even Need a Sovereign Wealth Fund? Economist Reacts to the 2026 Spring Fiscal Update
In this episode, host Michael Hainsworth speaks with Kate Koplovich, Senior Policy Analyst at the C.D. Howe Institute, about Ottawa’s proposed Canada Strong…
- The CDHI Podcast
The Tax Credit That Could Give Millions of Canadians a Pension | Alex Mazer and Keith Ambachtsheer
More than 9 million Canadians don’t have a company pension plan because they work for a small business that doesn’t think it can afford one. Finance veteran…
- The CDHI Podcast
Why the $10/day Childcare Program Isn’t Working & How to Fix It ft. Parisa Mahboubi and Tingting Zhang
Canada promised over 250,000 new childcare spaces – but many still haven’t materialized. While $10-a-day fees have improved affordability, families are…
- The CDHI Podcast
Why Canada Isn’t Seeing Gains from AI Yet ft. Economists Rosalie Wyonch and Daniel Schwanen
A $300 billion global AI race is underway - but is Canada falling behind? Daniel Schwanen and Rosalie Wyonch join the podcast to discuss AI's explosive growth…
- The CDHI Podcast
The 5% NATO Commitment Price Tag Will Require Ottawa to Make Tough Choices
Trump may waver on NATO, but Canada’s 5% commitment isn’t going anywhere - and it could cost $150 billion. .The question is: how do we pay for it? Colin Busby…
- The CDHI Podcast
Are Canadians Paying Too Much in Taxes? Jack Mintz on Tax Reform and a Major Overhaul
“Nation building” projects aren’t the only way to insulate Canada from Trump’s (trade) wars. Jack Mintz explains why a “big bang” reform is the only way to…
- The CDHI Podcast
The Exit Interview: Bill Robson on Canada’s Economy, Policy, and the Future of Debate
After almost 40 years at the C.D. Howe Institute, President Emeritus Bill Robson reflects on the Institute’s success, the future of Canada, and the state of…
- The CDHI Podcast
Why Canadian Students Still Can’t Do Basic Math ft. Prof Anna Stokke
Canada’s kids are being outperformed by many of their global peers in math, despite spending more than the OECD average. Dr. Anna Stokke of the University of…
- The CDHI Podcast
Canada’s Chief of Defence on NATO, Arctic Security & Preparing for Uncertainty
How will Canada’s new Defence Investment Agency strengthen our sovereignty? Canada’s top soldier, General Jennie Carignan, on the Arctic, a 400,000-strong…
- The CDHI Podcast
Bank of Canada Holds Interest Rates as CUSMA Looms – Economists Break It Down
The Bank of Canada held its benchmark interest rate, but the decision comes as uncertainty around CUSMA looms large. Dr. Jeremy Kronick and Steve Ambler break…
- The CDHI Podcast
AI, Innovation, and the Productivity Crisis in Canada Explained by a Nobel Prize–Winning Economist
AI is at the center of “creative destruction” of the Canadian Economy. The Institute’s 2025Nobel winner Peter Howitt sits down with our Michael Hainsworth to…
- The CDHI Podcast
If Canada Moves Too Slowly on Stablecoins, Here’s What’s at Risk
Canada can’t fall behind in the digital currency revolution. We famously adopted the bank machine before the US, and outpace most countries in digital…
- The CDHI Podcast
Why Major Projects Take So Long to Build in Canada - And How to Fix It
Canada needs new infrastructure fast – but major projects still take years or decades. Why? Host Michael Hainsworth speaks with economist David Jones about…
- The CDHI Podcast
What Canadians Don’t Know About Canada Post’s Billion-Dollar Problem with Glen Hodgson
It may be safe to mail Christmas cards again, but what will Canada's posties deliver in 2026? The Institute's Glen Hodgson on how to bring-down the billion…
- The CDHI Podcast
Should Canada Scrap the Electric Vehicle Mandate? Brian Livingston Makes the Case
Pull the plug on the Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate until we’ve got clarity on trade. That’s the advice from industry watcher Brian Livingston. The Institute’s…
- The CDHI Podcast
Why Low and Middle-Income Canadians Can’t Get the Financial Advice They Need
About a third of Canadians are taking financial advice from “finfluencers”. Golfdale Consulting’s Gary Edwards warns that this is a recipe for disaster for a…
- The CDHI Podcast
Budget 2025 with Bill Robson: What Canadians Need to Know
Canada does not have a credible fiscal plan. After Ottawa revealed the details of its “sea change” budget, the Institute’s Bill Robson explains why Mark…
- The CDHI Podcast
Canada's Innovation Crisis and Solutions Explained in 20 Minutes with Professor Catherine Beaudry
Think Canada has a productivity problem? Polytechnique Montreal’s Catherine Beaudry connects the dots between productivity, innovation, and one of the…
- The CDHI Podcast
Paul Wells on What Canadians Can Expect From Parliament This Fall
The fall sitting of the House of Commons begins today, and it’s an uphill battle for Canada’s novice politician turned Prime Minister. Veteran political…
- The CDHI Podcast
Experts Discuss the Impact of Canada’s International Student Caps
With foreign student caps now firmly in place, how are Canada’s colleges and universities fairing? According to Alex Usher of Higher Education Strategy…
- The CDHI Podcast
Why Canada Won’t Hit Its Immigration Reduction Target
Ottawa won’t meet its goal of reducing temporary immigration at this rate. The Institute’s Parisa Mahboubi asks why the federal government set a target it…
- The CDHI Podcast
US, Canada & Mexico Negotiators on Why Free Trade Matters
What does it take to protect $1 trillion in trade? Three CUSMA negotiators share the importance of preserving duty‑free trade between Canada, the US, and…
- The CDHI Podcast
Don't Inflate the Bank of Canada's Mandate with Steve Ambler and Jeremy Kronick
Should Canada adopt America’s monetary policy? The Institute’s Jeremy Kronick and Steve Ambler explain to our Michael Hainsworth that changing the way we guide…
- The CDHI Podcast
Interprovincial Trade Progress with Ryan Manucha
In the age of tariffs, it’s now or never, and Ottawa needs to accelerate the breaking-down of inter-provincial trade barriers. Institute trade expert and…
- The CDHI Podcast
Banking on Infrastructure Banks with Sebastien Betermier
Canada needs new infrastructure, but there’s a catch-22: developers can’t move forward without financing, and investors are wary of early-stage risk. So how do…
- The CDHI Podcast
Energy Independence with Travis Toews and Rory Johnston
Energy independence from the United States requires resolve. Alberta’s Travis Toews and Rory Johnston of Commodity Context tells our Michael Hainsworth that…
- The CDHI Podcast
Canada's Municipal Class Clowns? with Bill Robson and Nick Dahir
Your high school teacher would fail you for it. So why areCanada’s biggest cities getting away with fudging their fiscal homework? The C.D. Howe Institute’s…
- The CDHI Podcast
Intelligent AI Policy with Anindya Sen and Rosalie Wyonch
Canada is great at AI development, but what should the country’s first Minister for Artificial Intelligence make his key priorities? University of Waterloo’s…
- The CDHI Podcast
Auto Trade Back to the Future with Stephen Beatty and Daniel Schwanen
Turning back the clock to 1965 is the secret to automotive trade negotiations with the United States. Former Toyota executive Stephen Beatty and C.D. Howe…
- The CDHI Podcast
Negotiating with Trump with Mitzie Hunter and Jason Kenney
Canada is largely following our Trade Crisis Working Group’s strategy. But how do we implement massive changes to the country’s inter-provincial trade, expand…
- The CDHI Podcast
Budgeting for Trump in 2025 with Bill Robson and Don Drummond
In the age of Trump, how do you prepare Canada’s finances for a protracted trade war? The Institute’s Bill Robson and Don Drummond advise we balance the books…
- The CDHI Podcast
Growing Small into Big: The Housing Crisis Solution with Paul Beaudry and Jeremy Kronick
Solving Canada’s multiple housing crises requires thinking big – about smaller cities. In this episode of the CDHI Podcast with Michael Hainsworth, Vancouver…
- The CDHI Podcast
Pension Tension and the Trump Trade with Claude Lamoureux
We're saying “bye America, buy Canada” amid Donald Trump’s trade war. But even before he returned to office, there has been a growing drumbeat to turn pensions…
- The CDHI Podcast
Toronto's Big Smoke (Screen) Budget with Bill Robson and Nick Dahir
Torontonians might be shocked to learn their back-to-back property tax increases come at a time when city hall has more than a billion dollars in the bank. The…
- The CDHI Podcast
Tapping Immigrant Talent with Parisa Mahboubi and Tingting Zhang
Canada is squandering a vital resource in its skilled immigrants. On this episode ofthe CDHI podcast with Michael Hainsworth, two C.D. Howe Institute…
- The CDHI Podcast
Countering Trump's Trade Tariffs with Gary Hufbauer, Daniel Schwanen and Bill Robson
Elbows up: Canada is fighting Trump’s tariffs and a former US Treasury insider likes our strategy. Gary Hufbauer warns US standing will continue to shrink and…
- The CDHI Podcast
Healthcare System, Heal Thyself with Mark Holland and Rosalie Wyonch
Canada’s healthcare system must continue to evolve, according to Federal Minister of Health Mark Holland. On our latest episode, Minister Holland joins host…
- The CDHI Podcast
Trump's Tumultuous Tariff Threat with Meredith Lilly and Daniel Schwanen
Donald Trump isn't backing down from his threat to hit Canada with 25 percent tariffs. But Canada is fighting back. Michael Hainsworth speaks with Meredith…
- The CDHI Podcast
Capital Gains Bullet Dodged with Jack Mintz and Alex Laurin
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to step down has put the controversial capital gains tax plan’s future into question. Is it a bullet dodged, or should…
- The CDHI Podcast
The 2024 Year in Review
With 2024 almost behind us, Michael Hainsworth shares some of the CDHI podcast's most fascinating interviews and policy conversations during the course of a…
- The CDHI Podcast
No Balanced Budget For Christmas with Bill Robson
Two bombshells were dropped on Canadians this week with the abrupt departure of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland – and news that Canada spent $20 billion…
- The CDHI Podcast
Ho, Ho, Hold the GST Holiday with Bill Robson and Don Drummond
The holidays may be about eating to excess, but Ottawa’s “GST Holiday” is little more than “fiscal junk food”. On this episode of the CDHI podcast, Institute…
- The CDHI Podcast
Prescribing Innovation with Rosalie Wyonch and Helen Angus
Ever since ChatGPT started making headlines for helping students write their essays, artificial intelligence (AI) has gotten a bad rap. But machine learning…
- The CDHI Podcast
Trump Won, Now What? With John Baird and John Manley
The decision by American voters to send Donald Trump back to the White House continues to reverberate around the world. Canada’s biggest trading partner is…
- The CDHI Podcast
Another Day Older and Deeper in Debt with Parisa Mahboubi and Bill Robson
When it comes to Canada's finances, the country is aging in more ways than one. With a shrinking workforce, government revenue growth slowing, and costs for…
- The CDHI Podcast
Elections, Trade and NATO with US Ambassador David Cohen
Like it or not, Canada is living in interesting times. Our only neighbour and biggest trading partner is holding an election that could determine the global…
- The CDHI Podcast
Regent Debate Redux with Conrad Black and Martha Hall Findlay
Should Canada be worried about a possible second Trump presidency, or excited? On September 24th, the C.D. Howe Institute hosted a Regent Debate – Be It…
- The CDHI Podcast
Canada's Productivity Problem
Since the mid-1980s, US labour productivity has grown by 100 percent. But in Canada, it's only grown by 40 percent. Lower productivity means the economy grows…