Do Deficits Matter Anymore? | The Agenda
November 4, 2021 | Governments worldwide have run huge deficits to deal with COVID-19. Should we be about this ballooning debt, or do deficits not matter anymore? Max Bell School director Chris Ragan weighs in.
Watch the panel.
A low-carbon world is coming Alberta | Maclean's
October 21, 2021 | In this op-ed for Maclean's Max Bell School director Chris Ragan, Dale Beugin and Gord Lambert explain why ahead of COP26, Alberta needs to prepare for the inevitability of a low-carbon world.
Read the article.
Federal government pressed to extend COVID-19 benefits for small businesses |
October 5, 2021 | With vaccination rates relatively high across the country, Canada has moved past the worst stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. That said, the crisis is by no means over, and many businesses haven't fully recovered. What, then, should the federal government do about the small business support programs it launched at the onset of the pandemic? Max Bell School director Chris Ragan recently shared his perspective.
Battling climate change in Canada: Experts examine the major parties' climate plans | The Current
August 23, 2021 | When voters went to the polls in the recent federal election, climate change was front of mind for many. For the first time, all major parties had credible plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But how did the plans stack up to each other? Max Bell School director Chris Ragan weighs in on this episode of The Current.
Climate change and the election: Compare party platforms | CBC News
September 12, 2021 | The 44th federal election campaign is over, and the Liberals have clung to their plurality of seats in the House of Commons, setting them up to form another minority government. Read about what they have promised to do to fight climate change during their new mandate.
Read the article.
Economists say NDP plan to hike tax on heavy emitters would cost Canadian jobs | Toronto Star
August 31, 2021 | The NDP has pledged to close loopholes in Canada's carbon pricing regime that provide a discount to industrial polluters. Some economists, including Max Bell School director Chris Ragan, believe that such a policy change would cost Canada jobs and lead to no reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions.
Election campaign and inflation set up ‘perfect storm’ for usually sleepy review of BoC monetary policy | The Globe and Mail
August 20, 2021 | The Bank of Canada's mandate renewal—usually a mundane and technical affair—is generating interest in the political sphere as Canadas 44th federal election gets underway.
Climate change puts health at risk and economists have the right prescription | The Conversation
June 24, 2021 | "We’re paying for climate change with our health." Co-written by Courtney Howard of the University of Calgary and Max Bell School director Chris Ragan, this article explains how the disruptive events caused by climate change are posing a climbing risk to our health and healthcare systems. From wildfires and severe storms to heat waves and poor-quality air, learn more about the environmental factors threatening our physical well-being.
Chris Ragan on the Conservative's Climate Plan | CBC Power & Politics
15 April, 2021 | In this panel conversation, Max Bell School director Chris Ragan shares his thoughts on the Conservative's newly revealed climate plan in a conversation with the Globe and Mail's Kelly Cryderman and political commentator Shakir Chambers.
‘Are we going to be able to pull this off?’: How the Bank of Canada doused a financial fire last spring | The Globe and Mail
March 27, 2021 | In this Globe and Mail article, Max Bell School Director Chris Ragan weighs in on the Bank of Canada's role in pandemic economic recovery, discussing monetary policy topics including quantitative easing and inflation risks.
Read the article.
The 'safe bets' and 'wild cards' needed to meet Canada's net zero emissions target | Maclean's
February 17, 2021 | Max Bell School Director Christopher Ragan and Carleton University economist Dave Sawyer penned this op-ed that takes a critical look at the widespread economic and industry reforms needed to achieve Canada's goal of "net zero" greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
What Should Canada Do Next? | Hot Talk Podcast
December 23, 2020 | In this episode of the Hot Talk podcast, Max Bell School director Chris Ragan comments on the federal government's newly announced plan to raise the price of carbon and implement other climate policies.
Listen to the podcast.
The Liberals need to have faith that their carbon tax will do its job | The Line
In this article for The Line newsletter, Max Bell School Professor Ken Boessenkool and Director Chris Ragan argue that the government should have more confidence in the newly increased carbon tax to do its job and resist the temptation to throw in all sorts of other popular, but expensive, policies as well.
Why the Bank of Canada needs a revised mandate | The Globe and Mail
Max Bell School Director Chris Ragan and Professor Stephen Gordon of Université Laval penned this opinion piece to highlight the importance of monetary policy and the upcoming revision of the Bank of Canada's mandate. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect many spheres of public policy, the Bank of Canada will need to carefully consider all policy objective alternatives.
Canada’s COVID-19 recovery plan | The Current
By how much will the pandemic cause federal spending to rise? How much revenue are we expecting to lose? And how will the Canadian government manage their debt and avoid a financial emergency? As the COVID-19 crisis continues to spread uncertainty across Canada and the around the world, economists and policymakers must ask themselves these questions and devise ways to manage the post-pandemic financial landscape.
