Think Tank

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Michael Kugelman

Reflections on the India-Pakistan Crisis: Takeaways and Implications for Canada-India Ties

Last month’s India-Pakistan clash was an unsettling reminder of the volatile relationship between the two nuclear-armed adversaries. New Delhi’s ties with Islamabad had been relatively calm over the four years prior, following the inking in February 2021 of a new truce along the Line of Control (LoC), the disputed border that bisects India- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The truce reduced cross-border...

Trevor Tombe

Free Atlantic: Unlocking Regional Growth

Liberalizing trade within Canada has long been a challenge. Geographic constraints, infrastructure gaps, differences in language and culture, and easy access to a large market to the south have all dampened the volume of internal trade. Concerns over limited interprovincial trade have surfaced repeatedly throughout Canadian history, from early infrastructure challenges at Confederation aimed at bridging these divides to issues...

Ken Coates

Empowering maritime First Nations: Improving treaty rights under the Marshall decision

In 1999, the Supreme Court of Canada made a historic decision that transformed the country’s commercial East Coast fishing industry. At the time, First Nations had been locked out of the regional economy for several centuries, despite traditionally engaging in fishing for subsistence and for trade.

Sun Ryung Park, Hyun Kim

South Korea’s New President Looks to Revamp Foreign Policy, Deepen Canada Ties

On June 3, 2025, South Korea held its 21st presidential election, resulting in the victory of opposition candidate Lee Jae-myung. The election, triggered by the December 2024 impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, took place amid heightened social tensions. As the new president, Lee will be tasked with uniting a deeply polarized society and re-establishing South Korea’s regional and...

Stuart J. Smyth

Sacred (cash) cows – The urgent need to eliminate supply management

The new Carney government will face a host of challenges, including trade, tariffs, innovation, and regulation. However, it must make agriculture a top priority if it hopes to solve the long-standing problem of supply management – an outdated, flawed, and costly system for producing dairy, eggs, and poultry products. This anti-competitive production model results in higher prices for all these...

Stuart Trew, Karen Hansen-Kuhn, Manuel Perez-Rocha

NORTH AMERICAN SOLIDARITY NEEDED TO NAVIGATE TRUMP’S TRADE WARS

Like a spoiled child, Donald Trump has kicked over the sandcastle defending what is left of the rules-based international trading order. As critics of that order, we accept the opportunity and challenge it creates to rethink international relations and mutating neoliberal dogmas. However, we are greatly concerned by the chaos and misfortune that Trump’s actions have caused for workers and...

George Haynal

The need for a new approach to Canada-U.S. Diplomacy

Canada’s relationship with the U.S. is complex, asymmetrical, and fundamental to Canada’s economic prosperity. It is also entering a period of great uncertainty that requires a fundamental rethinking of Canada’s diplomatic engagement with the U.S.

Sun Ryung Park

Japan Tweaks Trump Strategy as Tariffs Begin to Hit

In April, the United States imposed a baseline 10 per cent tariff on nearly all imports, with higher country-specific rates proposed for its major trade partners. Japan was hit hard: it faces a potential 24 per cent U.S. tariff on its exports beginning July 9 unless the two sides can reach an agreement before then. A separate 25 per cent...

Mark Cameron

Mission: Critical Minerals

How Canada can seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity and win the coming natural resource arms race The transition to a clean and digital economy has ignited a global race for critical minerals — the essential inputs for batteries, electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines, solar panels, advanced electronics and defence technologies. These minerals (such as lithium, cobalt and nickel) are now as...

Sonya Savage, Heather Exner-Pirot

(Im)balance of power – How federal overreach fuels Western Alienation

Western anger is largely fuelled by Ottawa’s decade-long legislative and regulatory agenda, which trampled on provincial jurisdiction while specifically targeting the oil and gas industry – a major source of Western Canada’s wealth.

Gordon More

Big Innovation in Small Places: Southeast Saskatchewan Demonstrates How Rural Innovators Can Lead Canada’s Economic Transformation

Canada stands at a critical economic crossroads. From the urgent transition to net-zero emissions, to the pursuit of secure supply chains in critical minerals and energy technologies, to addressing a national productivity crisis, the opportunities for transformation are vast — but remain unevenly distributed.

Daniel Lincoln, Philippe Rheault, Anton Malkin

TCI Energy Brief: One Year In, China is the Largest Purchaser of TMX Oil, Demonstrating the Viability of Canadian Energy Exports to the Asia-Pacific

The completion of the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline in May 2024 has coincided with the beginning of a new era in global trade. Fueled by escalating US trade tensions and tariff policies that underscore Canada’s heavy dependence on a single market for its oil exports, TMX’s significance as a strategic gateway to the Asia-Pacific region is increasing, and China...

Ross McKitrick

Canada at a Crossroads – Volume 6: Degrees of separation – Universities versus the public

Universities are facing a sharp decline in their public reputation. In the US, the Trump administration is openly attacking many top universities – including taking steps to strip Harvard of its tax exempt status. The situation in Canada is less antagonistic, but there’s growing public frustration over the blatant left-wing bias and politicization of our post-secondary institutions. The public’s indifference...

Jay Khosla, Yiota Kokkinos, Chris Turner, Arash Golshan

Build Big Things

For too long, Canada has been content to muddle in the slow lane when what is needed — now more than ever — is a breathtaking build out. Here’s how to do it.

Cameron Field

Fighting mortgage fraud in Canada

Mortgage fraud in Canada has surged in recent years, raising deep concerns across multiple sectors. Anxiety is soaring among lenders as they face rising losses and inflated property prices. Meanwhile, organized criminal actors are overwhelming regulators and law enforcement. Several complex factors are behind the growing crisis, including pressures from housing affordability, rising interest rates, and the lingering effects of...

Ryan Manucha

Nova Scotia leading the way on reducing interprovincial trade barriers

Sergey Sukhankin

A fork in the road: As bifurcation hits the global uranium industry, the secure path leads to Canada

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has forever changed global commodities markets. The economic sanctions subsequently imposed on Russia exposed multiple risks related to (over)reliance on a single or dominant suppliers of critical materials (Sukhankin 2024a).

John Milloy

God and Mr. Carney

Despite knowing very little about him, Canadians chose Mark Carney as their new prime minister. Fearful of the bellicose threats coming from the United States about Canada becoming the 51st state, voters turned to the former central banker as a steady hand to deal with President Donald Trump. With no previous political experience to point to, much was made during...

Lawrence Zhang, Daniel Castro

Canada should harness its AI advantage, not squander it

In an era when AI will enhance everything from crop yields to cancer detection, the central priority should be to accelerate AI adoption to boost Canada's economic prosperity and quality of life for its citizens, not impose roadblocks to innovation with overly precautionary regulation.

Kevin Lynch

Navigating the Fog of Trump’s Trade War

The global economy is facing major instability, especially due to the Trump administration’s trade policies, which have permanently disrupted free trade with the U.S. and the global trading system. Canada must act quickly with bold policy changes to stay competitive and find new export markets.

Patrick Leblond, Stephen R. Nagy, Karthik Nachiappan, Don McLain Gill

Strategic Reflections: The Indo-Pacific Imperative for Canada’s New Government

With Canada’s federal election now behind us and the Liberal Party launching into a rare fourth consecutive mandate, Ottawa stands at a pivotal juncture for its Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS).

Scott E. Simon

‘One China’ second thoughts: Why Canada must support Taiwan’s resilience

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is an increasingly disruptive global power and a growing challenge to Canada. One substantial risk is that the PRC intends to annex Taiwan, which it has never controlled, and it does not rule out the option of military force. China’s increasing rate of military exercises around Taiwan indicate that it is preparing for aggression...

Bruce Campbell

Canada should move towards integration with Europe instead of the U.S.

Trump’s chaotic global tariff war, which has upended the international order, shows no sign of letting up. Presidents of the U.S. have long used trade as an instrument of power to assert economic and military dominance over the global economy. Trump however, does so against Canada and other allies—a vision driven by his pathological narcissistic view of the world, unrestrained...

David McKinnon

The Case for Re-engaging India

Every assumption we’ve made about Canada’s place in the world over the past 80 years is open to question. We can no longer rely on others to safeguard our prosperity and security. It is up to us — guided by our interests, values, and a renewed sense of identity and common purpose. In this context, whoever forms the Cana

Karen Restoule

It’s time Canadian politicians take a stand against extremism displayed in our streets

Edgardo Sepulveda

Scorched earth: A quantitative analysis of arson against Canadian religious institutions and its threat to reconciliation

The act of setting fire to houses of worship carries profound implications for our culture, our politics, and for the state of religious liberty in Canada; it also has the potential to seriously undermine Indigenous reconciliation.

Lisa McLaughlin

Roots of tomorrow: Canada's forests need our support

Xiaoting (Maya) Liu, Vina Nadjibulla

Can China's New Economic Playbook Help it Weather U.S. Tariffs?

On March 11, China concluded its annual 'Two Sessions' — a pair of legislative and advisory meetings focused on Beijing's economic priorities for the year ahead. The slew of macroeconomic measures announced at those meetings are now taking on heightened significance amid the escalating U.S.–China trade war.

Tricia Yeoh

Trump’s On-off Tariffs Could Disengage Southeast Asia Further from the U.S.

The reciprocal tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on April 2 – what he referred to as “Liberation Day” – hit Southeast Asian economies particularly hard. While they and others received a brief respite in the form of a 90-day pause, with a universal lowered reciprocal tariff of 10 per cent, tariffs on goods from China spiked to 14...

Shawn Whatley

A winning prescription: It’s time to let innovators drive health care reform – Shawn Whatley

Canadian health care is ripe for major reform. In 1965–66, Canada experienced a paradigm shift – a “big bang” policy change. Since then, the core relationships between patient, state, medical profession, and labour remain the same. For 60 years, political actors have focused on policies that promise incremental change and avoid major reform. Medicare might be one of the most...

Jonah Davids

Wired for worry: How smartphones and social media are harming Canadian youth

The introduction of smartphones, and with it, ubiquitous social media usage, are clearly key factors in the rise in youth mental health issues seen across the world.

Emaad Samsoodeen, Kevin Page

Assessing Canada’s Policy Responses to Trump’s Tariffs

The principal ballot box question for the 2025 federal election is which party leader is best positioned to address Donald Trump’s trade war and threats to Canadian sovereignty. The conflict with the Trump administration has the potential to be a turning point for the Canadian economy. Forecasters are suggesting we brace for an economic recession. Whether or not this happens...

Heather Exner-Pirot

Northern corridors: Hype or hope? Heather Exner-Pirot

In the rush to diversify Canada’s trade routes and export destinations, provincial, territorial, and federal politicians of all partisan stripes have heralded new corridors and ports. With major ports already established on the Pacific side, in Vancouver and Prince Rupert; and the Atlantic side, in Montreal, Halifax, and Saint John; attention has turned to the Arctic.

Vina Nadjibulla, Erin Williams

China, Russia Remain Close Despite Trump’s Efforts to Drive a Wedge

On April 2 — just before the U.S. announced sweeping new tariffs on much of the world — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded a three-day visit to Moscow, where he met with his counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two sides discussed the Russia-Ukraine war and other security flashpoints, including Iran’s nuclear program and the Korean...

Ryan Manucha

Unlocking Canada’s economy: Why mutual recognition is the key to supercharging internal trade

US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats seem to have reminded Canadians that we don’t even trade well with each other. We self-sabotage through domestic trade obstacles that hinder economic growth and security.

Ramona Coelho

Rushing to death in Canada’s MAiD regime: Ramona Coelho for Inside Policy

Canada legalized Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in 2016, encompassing both euthanasia and assisted suicide. Initially limited to those nearing their natural death, eligibility expanded in 2021 to individuals with physical disabilities, with eligibility for individuals with mental illness in 2027. Parliamentary recommendations include MAiD for children. A recent federal consultation explored extending MAiD to those who lack capacity via...

Vina Nadjibulla, Suvolaxmi Dutta Choudhury

Resetting Canada-India Relations: Navigating Security, Trade, and Strategic Opportunities in a Shifting Global Order

Canada-India relations sharply deteriorated in September 2023 when former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau linked the murder of Canadian Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar to Indian state agents. The crisis deepened in October 2024 when Ottawa accused Indian diplomats of being complicit in criminal activities, including intimidation, extortion, and murder. New Delhi rejected these claims, labelling Canada a “safe haven” for...

Ross McKitrick

Canada at a Crossroads – Volume 3: Dollars and sense: The case for cutting income taxes

Canada is at a crossroads. The issues confronting Canada in 2025 go beyond mere setbacks and can more accurately be called crises. Unless they are resolved quickly, we face a deep and potentially permanent loss of our national standard of living and quality of life. We hereby introduce the “Canada at the Crossroads” series of reports from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute...

Diana Fu, Emile Dirks

How Can Canada Tackle Foreign Interference Without a U.S. Ally?

Within three months of taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump has given his greatest adversary, Beijing, what it always desired—the dismantling of U.S.-based civil society groups that supported human rights in China. With a stroke of his presidential pen, Donald Trump froze funding for Radio Free Asia, Voice of America, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the Woodrow Wilson International...

Broken Trust: Managing an Unreliable Ally

The United States, under President Donald Trump, has become an unreliable partner. Its longstanding allies can no longer be confident that America will respect its commitments to come to their defence or respect its economic agreements. That is particularly true for Canada. This report identifies concrete measures to mitigate Canada’s risk of depending on an ally, trading partner, and neighbour...

Stéphane Sérafin, Geoffrey Sigalet

Alberta Children’s Charter, a bold step in the right direction for youth transgender policy

Stéphane Sérafin and Geoffrey Sigalet explain why Alberta's laws on gender pronouns, early age transitioning, and access to girls' and women's sports are necessary to protect children and ensure the integrity of girls’ and women’s sports.

Ken Coates

BC salmon farms could forward reconciliation. Now they are being banned by government.

Clara Geddes, Helaina Gaspard

Information and Communication Infrastructure Resiliency: Canada’s Invisible Security Risk

The onslaught of President Donald Trump’s tariffs has pushed economic security to the forefront of the upcoming federal election. The shifting political relationship between Canada and the United States will require Canada to enhance its economic and continental security activities so that it is not perceived or targeted as vulnerable. These efforts must include enhancing the resiliency of our information...