As university students across Canada head back to campuses, a new Leger poll, commissioned for the Fraser Institute, shows 37 per cent of self-described right-leaning students and even 30 per cent of self-described left-leaning students fear formal consequences—including lower grades—if they express a viewpoint in class that conflicts with what […]
Ontarians will spend nearly as much on federal and provincial government debt interest costs ($36.2 billion) in 2024/25 as what the province spends on K-12 education ($38.4 billion), finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Interest must be paid on government […]
Saskatchewan remains Canada’s top-rated jurisdiction for mining investment, ranking 7th globally in the Annual Survey of Mining Companies released on July 29, 2025, by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. Finland is the top-ranked jurisdiction worldwide for mining investment in this year’s survey, followed by Nevada. […]
The average Canadian family spent 42.3 per cent of its income on taxes in 2024—more than on housing, food and clothing combined, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “At a time when the cost of living is top of mind […]
From 2000 to 2015, annual immigration averaged 617,800 immigrants, compared to a more than doubling to 1.4 million annually from 2016 to 2024 (excluding 2020), according to a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent non-partisan Canadian think-tank. “Over the past decade, Canada’s immigration numbers have skyrocketed, most […]
Switzerland’s universal health-care system delivers significantly better results than Canada’s in terms of wait times, access to health professionals like doctors and nurses, and patient satisfaction finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian policy think-tank. “Despite its massive price tag, Canada’s health-care system […]
Canada could help significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by increasing natural gas production and exporting the additional supply to Asia in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG), according to a new study from the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think tank. “As countries like China […]
Medical wait times cost Canadian patients almost $5.2 billion in lost wages last year Long waits for surgery and medical treatment cost Canadians almost $5.2 billion in lost wages and productivity last year, finds a new study released by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy thinktank. An […]
Ontario building fewer homes today than in 1970s, despite nearly 4 times higher annual population growth The annual number of new homes being built in Ontario is fewer now than it was in the 1970s, despite annual population growth in the province being nearly four times higher, finds a new […]
Canada has some of the best air quality in the world, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “As Earth Day approaches, Canadians should know that they breathe some of the cleanest air on Earth,” said Elmira Aliakbari, director of […]
Despite fears about mass unemployment, the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), like past major technological innovations, will transform economies, raise living standards, and likely contribute to net job creation, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Like the printing press, […]
More than 20 per cent of households in Canada earning less than $55,000 experience energy poverty, meaning they spend ten per cent or more of their household budget for electricity, home heating fuel and gasoline, finds a new report published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public […]
New study published by the Fraser Institute examines property crime and violent crime rates across 36 Canadian and over 300 United States metropolitan areas The rate of property crimes per person in Toronto is 40 per cent higher than New York, finds a new study published today by the Fraser […]
Canadian air travel is plagued by higher ticket prices, poorer service, and limited consumer choice due to ineffective and outdated federal policies, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan public policy think-tank. “As Canadian travellers know all too well, airfares in Canada are higher than […]
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Chrétien Liberal government’s 1995 federal budget—one of the most important budgets in Canadian history—which contains key lessons for today’s federal and provincial policymakers, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “To improve […]
Policymakers in Ottawa should consider replicating the British Columbia government’s successful fiscal reforms from 2001 to improve the economic and fiscal outlook for Canada, finds a new study published February 4, 2025, by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “The blueprint for economic growth is simple—lower […]
To help increase living standards for Canadians, the federal government should reform its immigration system and prioritize immigrants with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) qualifications and strong English or French language skills, finds a new essay released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. […]
Proposed federal tax hike would make Canada’s top capital gains tax rate among the highest of 37 advanced countries Ottawa’s proposed increase to the effective capital gains tax rate will result in Canada having among the highest—and least competitive—top capital gains tax rates in the industrialized world, finds a new […]
The number of Canadians donating to charity—as a percentage of all tax filers—is at the lowest point in 20 years, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “The holiday season is a time to reflect on charitable giving, and the data […]
Hiring by the federal government in excess of population growth cost taxpayers $7.5 billion in 2022/23 The federal workforce has grown more rapidly than the Canadian population starting in 2015/16, imposing significant costs on taxpayers, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public […]
Among a group of 31 high-income countries that have universally accessible health care, Canada has among the lowest availability of doctors, hospital beds, and most medical technologies—and some of the longest wait times, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. […]
While federal spending on Indigenous affairs has almost tripled since 2015, the uptick in Indigenous living standards is due primarily to the Canada Child Benefit, an unrelated federal program for families with children, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. […]
Job growth in government exceeded the private sector in 8 out of 10 provinces from 2019-23 In eight of 10 provinces the rate of government job growth has been higher than the private sector, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy […]
Canada has an opportunity to change the way it taxes businesses and in doing so, could vastly improve the country’s attractiveness for investment, improving economic growth and raising living standards for Canadian workers, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. […]
The median employment earnings—wages, salaries and selfemployment income—of workers were lower in every Canadian province than in every state in the United States, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Canadian workers earn less compared to American workers, regardless of […]
The ESG movement—which calls for public companies and investors in public companies to identify and voluntarily implement environmental, social, and governance initiatives—will cause substantial harm to the economy and workers, finds two new essays by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Investor support for ESG is […]
A typical Canadian family of four will pay an estimated $17,713 for public health-care insurance this year, finds a new study released by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Canadians pay a substantial amount of money for health care through a variety of taxes—even if we […]
Canada’s debt ranking falls from best in G7 to 7th worst of 32 advanced countries when total debt is measured Canada’s relative debt position is much worse than the federal government suggests when a larger group of advanced countries are included and total debt—not just net debt—is measured, finds a […]
Over the last business cycle (2007 to 2019), and long before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Canada was already underperforming other advanced countries on important investment, employment and productivity measures that are key to higher living standards, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public […]
The average Canadian family spent 43.0 per cent of its income on taxes in 2023—more than housing, food and clothing costs combined, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Taxes remain the largest household expense for families in Canada,” said Jake […]
Canada had the third-lowest growth in per person GDP among 30 advanced economies between 2014 and 2022 Canada had the third-lowest growth in GDP per person from 2014 to 2022 among 30 advanced economies, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. […]
Over the past decade, weak business investment in technologies that increase worker productivity is stifling Canada’s economic growth and suppressing improvements in Canadian living standards, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent non-partisan Canadian think-tank. “Weak business investment in technologies like IT and research and […]
The top 20 per cent of income-earning families pay more than half (54.2 per cent) of total taxes including personal income, sales and property taxes, according to a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent non-partisan Canadian think-tank. “Despite the common misperception that top earners don’t pay their […]
Parents with kids in K-12 schools across Canada value balance rather than bias in classrooms, as well as parental involvement and consent, finds a new Leger poll commissioned by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “With ongoing debates across Canada impacting K-12 classrooms, school policies and […]
The global goal to achieve “net-zero” carbon emissions by 2050 is impractical and unrealistic, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “The plan to eliminate fossil fuels and achieve a net-zero economy faces formidable economic, political and practical challenges,” said […]
From 2019 to 2023, Canadian living standards declined—and as of the end of 2023, the decline had not yet ended, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Despite claims to the contrary, living standards are declining in Canada,” said Grady Munro, […]
The curriculum guides for Ontario elementary and high school students are lacking in specific Canadian history content, and are not organized chronologically to give students a solid foundational knowledge of the nation’s past, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. […]
Canadian families and individuals with annual incomes between $30,000 and $60,000 face marginal effective tax rates near or above 50 per cent, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Canadian families with modest incomes face high marginal effective tax rates, often […]
The combined size of the federal, provincial, and municipal governments increased in all but two provinces over the 2007 to 2022 period (relative to the sizes of their economies), finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “The size of government […]
Higher levels of per-student spending do not achieve higher student scores on standardized tests, either internationally or among the provinces, finds a new report published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Just spending more on K-12 education does not lead to better student outcomes,” […]
The federal government’s requirement that all new vehicles sold by 2035 be electric could increase Canada’s power demands by as much as 15.3 per cent, requiring the equivalent of 10 new mega hydro dams or 13 large natural gas plants to meet the increased power needs, finds a new study […]
In countries with higher levels of economic freedom, people are less likely to subscribe to social norms that prioritize men over women in education, the labour force and political leadership, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. In more economically […]
The Fraser Institute published the annual rankings of Ontario elementary schools today. The rankings are the most easily accessible tool for parents to compare the academic performance of the province’s schools. They offer parents information they can’t easily get anywhere else, about how schools perform over time and how they […]
Despite progress by various municipalities and the provincial government, significant impediments to homebuilding remain in Ontario, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “The high cost of housing remains a major concern for Ontarians, and government barriers, both municipal and […]
Federal day-care program has resulted in little-to-no change in the female labour force participation rate or industry employment Despite the federal government’s commitment to raising the labour force participation rate of women through the creation of a federal subsidized daycare program in collaboration with the provinces, neither it nor employment […]
Combined federal and provincial debt in Canada has nearly doubled from $1.18 trillion in 2007/08 (the year before the last recession) to a projected $2.18 trillion this year, finds a new study released last week by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Government debt—federally and in […]
Higher university subsidies do not necessarily result in a more educated population, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “If there was a positive relationship between higher university spending by provincial governments and an increase in educated populations, we would […]
As a result of increasing restrictions on liberties in Hong Kong—once among the freest places on earth—it now ranks 46th in the latest Human Freedom Index report, released this month by Canada’s Fraser Institute and the U.S.-based Cato Institute. As recently as 2010, Hong Kong was the 3rd freest jurisdiction […]
The number of Canadians donating to charity—as a percentage of all tax filers—is at the lowest point in 20 years, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “The holiday season is a time to reflect on charitable giving, and the data […]
In a ranking of employment incomes in the largest 107 metropolitan areas around the Great Lakes region for 2019, London (93rd) and Windsor (99th) are right near the bottom, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Southwestern Ontario’s once prosperous cities […]
To meet international government mandates for electric vehicles (EV), a total of 388 new mines must be built to produce the metals required for EV production, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank. “The sheer scale of mining required to […]
Among a group of 30 high-income countries that have universally accessible health care, Canada has some of the lowest availability of doctors, hospital beds, and medical technologies—and the longest wait times, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “In terms […]
The federal government’s new Indo-Pacific trade strategy (IPS), meant to encourage increased Canadian exports to Indo-Pacific countries such as India and China through subsidies and other preferential treatments, unwisely shifts attention from Canada’s largest trading partner and key source of prosperity, finds a new study released on October 24, 2023 […]
Federal electric vehicle subsidies cost $355 per tonne of averted GHG, dwarfing price of carbon tax ($65) Government subsidies for electric vehicle purchases are an extremely costly way to try to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, […]
In Canada, the gap between the number of homes built and the number of additional people is the widest it’s been in 50 years, finds a new study released by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank. “Canada faces an historic gap between population growth and the […]
Canadians endure relatively poor access to mental health services when compared to what is available in other developed nations with universal access health care systems, particularly for psychiatric care beds, psychiatrists and psychologists, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. […]
While the federal government has made progress, it should enact more reforms to improve the economic performance of permanent immigrant workers, finds a new study released on September 21, 2023, by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank. “As Ottawa increases immigration targets, government policies can do […]
The cost of a newly constructed home in Ontario will increase by $71,818, on average, by 2030 as a result of the federal government’s stricter energy efficiency regulations for buildings, according to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank. Crucially, the […]
The prolonged COVID-19 school closures across Ontario from 2020 to 2022, imposed life-long costs on children, despite evidence available to policymakers early on that closures wouldn’t slow the transmission of COVID-19 and that the harms could outweigh any possible benefits, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an […]
Despite common misperceptions, education spending, specifically per student spending in public schools across Canada increased in 8 of ten provinces between 2012-13 and 2020-21, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Contrary to what we often hear, spending is on the […]
Under fast-aging population projections, Canada’s aging population could lower per person GDP, a broad measure of income, by $11,200 by 2043, finds a new study by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Overall, the seniors’ portion of the population in Canada has steadily increased over the […]
The top combined personal income tax rate in every province (except Alberta and Saskatchewan) currently exceeds 50 per cent—yet the majority of Canadians (58 per cent) believe that personal income tax rates should not exceed 50 per cent, finds new polling data published on July 13, 2023 by the Fraser […]
Lower taxes and balanced budget were possible this year if Ford government had held to Wynneera spending levels If the Ford government had maintained the spending levels of the previous Wynne government, there would have been $9.5 billion available this year for tax relief and balancing the budget, finds a […]
The total cost of the federal government’s wasteful COVID spending—money that was poorly targeted or sent to ineligible recipients—will eclipse $110 billion by 2032/33, partly as a result of higher debt interest costs, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. […]
One In Four Neighbourhoods in Canadian Cities Saw Decline In Housing Units From 2016-2021 Despite a housing shortage in many cities across the country, the number of housing units in 26.4 per cent of Canada’s urban neighbourhoods—more than one-in-four—actually declined from 2016 to 2021, according to a new study released […]
Not only is there a widespread shortage of housing, but there is a growing mismatch between the housing types being built and those preferred by Canadians. Many Canadians prefer ground-oriented homes, but not enough are being built. Despite rising population and growing demand, more housing was constructed in Canadian cities […]
Canada’s environmental record outperforms a majority of comparable high-income countries worldwide, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank. “As Earth Day approaches, Canadians should know that their country remains one of the cleanest on the planet,” said Elmira Aliakbari, director […]
Government workers across Canada receive 8.5% higher wages, on average, than comparable private-sector workers The wage premium and more generous benefits that government workers in Canada enjoy over their private-sector counterparts is one area governments could look to reduce costs following the recession, finds a new study published by the […]
Between 2005 and 2019, large cities in Southwestern Ontario—in particular Windsor and London—have gone from being amongst the most prosperous cities in Canada (as measured by median household income) to being amongst the least prosperous, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public […]
The total tax bill continues to rise for the average Canadian family as 74 per cent of Canadians believe the average family (two or more people) is overtaxed by federal, provincial, and local governments. These are findings in a new report published on Thursday, March 2, 2023 by the Fraser […]
More than 4 in 10 Canadians — and half of younger Canadians aged 18-24 — support socialism as their preferred economic system, but an overwhelming majority define socialism as more government spending and programs, and Canadians generally don’t want to pay the higher taxes required to finance it, finds a […]
Innovation in Canada—a key driver of higher living standards— has declined relative to a peer group of 15 similarly advanced countries in recent years, while at the same time, innovation in the United States is on the rise, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute. “Innovation is […]
For the first time since 2012, Canada does not rank among the top 10 freest countries worldwide, finds a new study released today by Canada’s Fraser Institute and the U.S.-based Cato Institute. “During the pandemic, like other governments worldwide, governments in Canada restricted freedom of movement, expression, assembly and other […]
Canadian patients waited longer than ever this year for medical treatment, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. The study, an annual survey of physicians across Canada, reports a median wait time of 27.4 weeks—the longest ever recorded, longer than […]
Despite spending more on health care than most other developed countries with universal coverage, Canada has some of the lowest numbers of doctors, hospital beds, and medical technologies — and the longest wait times, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy […]
Despite scoring comparatively well internationally on the recent international PISA tests, results in all three disciplines — reading, math and science — have declined across the country, substantially so in some provinces, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank. Conducted […]