Business Investment
June 03, 2026
Private Credit: Risks and Realities
Private credit has come under scrutiny in recent months. A series of high-profile bankruptcies and loan-write downs, concerns around exposures to sectors such as software, and rising redemption pressure in retail-facing vehicles have raised questions about the resilience of the asset class. Previously steady inflows and stable valuations are now giving way to signs of strain, including steep sell-offs in publicly listed funds and elevated redemptions in non-traded funds.
May 21, 2026
Canada's Silent Brain Drain
Canada has always competed with the United States in developing and retaining top talent, but that fight is heating up. The U.S. has taken the global pole position in technological advances, like artificial intelligence where the reach will broaden into all industries. Tighter immigration policies south of the border will not insulate Canada from losing top talent in innovation and entrepreneurship.
February 26, 2026
Buy Canada: Foreign direct investment in Canada reached the highest level since 2007, while Canada's outward investment flows cooled in 2025
Canada’s balance of international payments data release has two main components: the current account (trade in goods and services, income flows, and transfers) and the financial account (portfolio and direct investment flows). We focus here on the latter – direct investment – the channel most closely associated with long-term economic integration, gaining influence and productive capacity in other economies.
February 25, 2026
Capital and Repair Expenditure Survey (2026)
Statistics Canada released the results of its latest 2026 survey of non-residential capital and repair expenditures (a.k.a., the CAPEX survey). This year's survey offers a clearer view of investment plans compared to last year's, as the sampling period now better captures the trade headwinds and pressures affecting businesses and government over the last year.
October 27, 2025
No Guts, No Glory – Tax and Regulation the Silent Killer of Competitiveness in Canada
Canada’s economic competitiveness is being held back by persistent tax and regulatory barriers, which discourage business investment and stifle productivity growth. Past efforts of tax and regulation reform have failed to meaningfully reduce compliance burdens and promote economic and business dynamism. A truly competitive workforce and economy require a stronger system of infrastructure, regulation, and taxes to support growth.
April 02, 2025
U.S. Liberation Day Binds The World To High Tariffs
The U.S. administration announced broad reciprocal tariffs today, targeting all trading partners, and not just the countries that run large trade surpluses with the U.S. The tariffs will be implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977.
January 06, 2025
Climate Policy in a 2nd Trump Term – What’s on the Chopping Block?
Climate policy is set to take a major U-turn under Donald Trump’s second term. The president-elect will likely prioritize rolling back regulatory powers and direct spending that expanded significantly under President Biden.
September 16, 2024
Canada’s Business Dynamism in a Post-Pandemic Slump
Already on the downshift trajectory before COVID-19, Canada’s business dynamism is struggling to get back on its feet. A slow rate of net business entries and rise in bankruptcies resulted in deteriorating business growth. Companies, employing more than 20 and less than 500 employees are at the forefront of this downturn.
September 13, 2024
U.S. 2024 Election: Economic and Financial Implications
Elections matter for the economy, but financial markets are likely to be particularly attuned to the current election cycle given America’s unsustainable fiscal trajectory. The make-up of Congress will determine how much of the future President’s agenda can be implemented. A divided Congress will likely force the next President to make significant concessions relative to their current platform proposals.
September 12, 2024
From Bad to Worse: Canada’s Productivity Slowdown is Everyone’s Problem
Canada has seen its productivity go from bad to worse since the pandemic. If Canada does not play to win on labour productivity, it risks a continued drop in living standards, worsening wage stagnation and a dangerous deterioration in public services.
