The CDHI Podcast

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 Mexico – and why these relationships remain vital for all three economies.

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 economy to be more like the U.S. would have disastrous results. 

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 research fellow Ryan Manucha tells Michael Hainsworth that there’s been progress, but not enough.

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 we break the cycle?Banking on the United States is risky, which is why McGill’s Sebastien Betermier tells us that Canada’s infrastructure banks need a sense of direction from Ottawa as we decouple our economies. There are also other countries – such as Australia – we can turn to for advice.

Energy independence from the United States requires resolve. Alberta’s Travis Toews and Rory Johnston of Commodity Context tells our Michael Hainsworth that threats against our sovereignty are bringing more Canadians around to the idea of pipelines to the coast.

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 Bill Robson and Nick Dahir hand out grades that have them writing the scathing “could do better” criticism which no student wants to read.

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 Anindya Sen and the C.D Howe Institute’s Rosalie Wyonch offer strong insight — and geek out a bit about the economics-oriented nature of machine learning algorithms.

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 Institute vice president Daniel Schwanen explain how the Auto Pact should be a template for the future.

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 globally, and improve productivity while negotiating with a president who doesn’t respect his own trade agreements? Co-chairs Jason Kenney and Mitzie Hunter explain.

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, raise the GST, and tell Canadians why the pain is necessary.