The haze of crisis
WITH ALL OF THE ECONOMIC TURMOIL IN GREECE, CANADIANS MIGHT BE WORRIED ABOUT A SIMILAR SITUATION HAPPENING HERE. BUT WE ARE FAR FROM BEING THE NEXT GREECE As of this writing, it was far from clear what kind of solution …
WITH ALL OF THE ECONOMIC TURMOIL IN GREECE, CANADIANS MIGHT BE WORRIED ABOUT A SIMILAR SITUATION HAPPENING HERE. BUT WE ARE FAR FROM BEING THE NEXT GREECE As of this writing, it was far from clear what kind of solution …
IT’S HARD TO SAY WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON ELECTION DAY By all accounts, we are headed for an exciting and unpredictable federal election. Though the main players claim to ignore the polls that are thrown at them almost daily, the …
INVESTING IN GOODWILL WILL PAY OFF AT YOUR DEALERSHIP In an era of ill will towards business and populist leaders pandering to such sentiment, it has never been more important to invest in “long-termism” and to place the customer’s interest …
The Canadian auto retail industry continues to thrive in a uniquely challenging marketplace THE PERIOD BEGINNING in late 2008 and ending today can be split up into three distinct economic periods: the immediate crash and recession; its subsequent lukewarm recovery, …
Manufacturers are scrambling to bring more fuel efficient vehicles to market but buyers aren’t following suit After a second consecutive record sales year for new vehicles in Canada that was driven entirely by growth in the truck segment, and with …
Canada’s current tax system is a direct result of our desire for democracy and deductions The federal government has finally moved into a surplus position after years of recession-induced (and stimulus-increased) deficits. Thus it has been able to fulfill some …
The view of Canada as a current beacon for fiscal responsibility perhaps doesn’t reveal the whole truth Now that we’re into election season (which, unfortunately, kicks off as much as a year before we actually get to vote), there will …
I have used this space on several occasions to offer insights into the recent evolution of consumer debt dynamics in the Canadian automotive retail market. Though the details varied, the theme did not: consumers have piled on more debt in …
GOVERNMENTS ARE INCREASINGLY WALKING A TIGHTROPE IN FACING THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AHEAD WHILE AT THE SAME TIME APPEALING TO VOTERS After the recent Ontario election campaign, in which the Liberals surprisingly returned with a strengthened majority mandate despite the burdens …
THE PLIGHT OF MEDIAN INCOME EARNERS IS A HOT POLITICAL BUTTON, BUT BY EMPHASIZING IT ARE WE IGNORING BIGGER ECONOMIC ISSUES THAT WILL LIKELY IMPACT ALL CANADIANS? Much of the political rhetoric this year has been devoted to the struggles …
LESS SCRUTINY ON GOVERNMENT TABLED LEGISLATION COULD HAVE SERIOUS LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES SAYS MICHAEL HATCH Unless you happen to be a Minister of Finance, it’s hard to get excited about government budgets. With so many layers of government active all around …
WHY RAISING MINIMUM WAGE RATES ISN’T NECESSARILY THE BEST APPROACH IN COMBATING POVERTY AND CREATING PROSPERITY Recent years have seen a great deal of discussion around the theme and perception of increased income inequality in Canada and elsewhere. Governments at …