Taxes, deficits, and Canada's fiscal reckoning - with Sean Speer

Governments of all party stripes, across Canada, must confront a gnarly problem when it comes to investing more fairly in all ages. How do we pay for the ballooning retirement costs of baby boomers, without skimping on the needs of younger people and burdening future generations with massive public debts? And more basically, how can we have "adult conversations" about how to pay for the Canada we want? Gen Squeeze founder Paul Kershaw delves into these questions and more with leading conservative thinker Sean Speer.

Sean is editor-at-large at The Hub, a Public Policy Forum fellow, and an assistant professor at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. He was previously a senior economic adviser to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. 

Dig deeper:

• Our Budget Season 2024 commentary and ⁠Substack Chat⁠, where you can share your budget questions and ideas during our “Office Hours” on April 19.

• “A fiscal reckoning is coming for Canada” by Sean Speer, The Hub 

• “Protect OAS by eliminating outdated tax shelters for retirees” by Paul Kershaw, The Globe & Mail

• “Globe & Mail: Canada’s promise to NATO collides with spending increases for retirees” by Paul Kershaw, The Globe & Mail

• Paul Kershaw’s provincial budget commentary in The Hub:

  • Ontario's budget further burdens younger Ontarians
  • Alberta's Conservatives double down on expensive health care strategy 
  • The B.C. budget highlights just how expensive the Boomers' retirements will be