
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.
Latest episodes

Jul 4, 2022 • 32min
S4 E9: Inflation and a Recession with Bill Robson and Jeremy Kronick
Raising interest rates to cool inflation is only part of the solution. But as the C.D. Howe Institute's Bill Robson and Jeremy Kronick tell host Michael Hainsworth, fiscal policy that increases corporate Canada's productive capacity to meet demand isn’t likely, leaving the central bank with the task of dousing the inflationary fire from 2 years of COVID-19 spending.

Jun 10, 2022 • 29min
S4 E8: The New Climate Bargain
With more than 100 days into the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, how do we avoid climate change from becoming just the latest casualty? RBC’s Colin Guldimann, the Pembina Institute’s Jan Gorski, and the The C.D. Howe Institute’s Charles DeLand tell Michael Hainsworth how we can keep our goals on track.

May 20, 2022 • 29min
S4 E7: Inflation with David Dodge and Stephen Poloz
Inflation is at a new 31 year high and the Bank of Canada is taking the unusual step of warning that interest rates are set to substantially rise. Former Bank of Canada governors David Dodge and Stephen Poloz sat down with Michael Hainsworth to discuss what’s different this time around, and why fiscal policy needs to take the wheel when monetary policy has only one lever to pull.

Apr 14, 2022 • 29min
S4 E6: The Economic Consequences of the War in Ukraine
The economic consequences of the Ukraine-Russia War are in the trillions. What does it mean for Canada, energy security and climate change? Dan Ciuriak and Monica Gattinger of the University of Ottawa tell Michael Hainsworth the fall-out has only just begun.

Mar 17, 2022 • 20min
S4 E5: Combatting Money Laundering to Help Ukraine with Kevin Comeau
Cutting-off Vladimir Putin and his enablers from global finance is the world’s primary weapon against the #UkraineRussiaWar. But as Kevin Comeau writes in his latest Intelligence Memo, it’s a weapon weakened by bureaucracy in Canada.

Mar 11, 2022 • 27min
S4 E4: Getting Serious Shadow Budget 2022 with Bill Robson
It’s time to get serious about paying for COVID-19 and preparing for the next crisis. The C.D. Howe Institute’s Bill Robson tells Michael Hainsworth it’s time to talk about spending cuts and tax increases. #podcast #cdnpoi #caneco

Feb 9, 2022 • 28min
S4 E3: Shoppers' Online Choices Transform Retail
COVID-19 has left its mark on Canadian retailers. However, what does this mean for your favourite "touchless" commerce? Retail analyst Bruce Winder joins Michael Hainsworth and the C.D. Howe Institute's Vice President, Research Daniel Schwanen to discuss his new report.

Jan 27, 2022 • 30min
S4 E2: Fixing Medicare with Don Drummond and Duncan Sinclair
Canada's healthcare system is failing. With the elderly population three times greater than when Tommy Douglas proposed Medicare, Queen's University's Don Drummond and Duncan Sinclair discuss why the Canada Health Act is failing against its five famous principles, and what to do about it.

Jan 11, 2022 • 22min
S4 E1: The Effect of Online Learning on Student Performance with Emily Oster
Elementary school students educated primarily online during the pandemic are falling behind by as much as an entire letter grade, according to a study delivered by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Brown University Professor of Economics Emily Oster says it’s enough of an impact that policy makers need to consider student performance when making decisions on school closures.

Dec 14, 2021 • 36min
S3 E24: Reliable Budgets and Transparency with Bill Robson
Canada's federal, provincial, and territorial governments have over the last 20 years routinely blown their budgets. Senior governments have overshot their spending targets by a combined $119B, while underestimating tax revenue by as much as $143B. C.D. Howe Institute CEO Bill Robson joins Michael Hainsworth to discuss why governments are so far off their mark and what can be done to fix budgetary disconnects.