Canada's Productivity Initiative
Investment, Economic Growth & Long-Term Prosperity
OTTAWA - Tax, fiscal policy, competition
MONTREAL - Talent, skills, immigration
VANCOUVER - Infrastructure, transportation
HALIFAX - Interprovincial trade, regulation
SASKATOON - Agriculture, energy, minerals
TORONTO - Innovation, technology
About the Initiative
Canada’s Productivity Initiative was launched in Fall 2024 at a national summit in Calgary to address the alarming decline in Canada’s already low economic productivity compared with the United States and other major trading partners. To build on the momentum, better under the challenges and develop solutions, the Summit has become a year-long undertaking, Canada’s Productivity Initiative.
The School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary is undertaking research on specific aspects of productivity and engaging with leading thinkers in business, government and academia across the country in 2025 to develop actionable and impactful recommendations for policymakers.
News and Publications
News:
Globe and Mail: Productivity, productivity: Why Canada keeps talking about it but sees no results October 2024
The Logic: Seizing the means of productivity October 2024
PostMedia: Varcoe: 'No-brainer' fixes to get things built in Canada, boost productivity October 2024
The Canadian Press: Canada has 'too many regulatory roadblocks and too much red tape' to fix productivity crisis: Alberta premier October 2024
Bloomberg/BNN Feds, provinces must work together to tackle productivity crisis: Alberta premier October 2024
Publications:
School of Public Policy: Productivity Growth in Canada: What is Going On? October 2024
School of Public Policy: Productivity and Labour Incomes May 2024
Canada's Productivity Summit, Oct. 16-17, 2024
As warnings about declining productivity and its looming threat to the country’s future prosperity, the School of Public Policy hosted Canada’s Productivity Summit sponsored by the Government of Alberta at the BMO Centre in Calgary in October 2024.
The more than 700 delegates who participated in the Summit included leaders from business, non-profits and representatives from governments from coast to coast to coast. They heard from over 80 leading economists and subject matter experts at plenary sessions and issue-specific panels to discuss ways to develop, or restore, foundations for sustained growth and prosperity in Canada.
The speakers and delegates at the two-day Summit discussed key issues impacting productivity including tax and regulatory reform, interprovincial trade barriers, infrastructure development and labour markets, and their impact across industrial sectors
Day One Opening Remarks - Martha Hall Findlay and Ed McCauley
Communicating Productivity & Policy
Interprovincial Trade Panel Discussion
Day One Closing Remarks
Fireside Chat with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
Keynote Speech by Andrew Coyne - The Globe and Mail
Learning From The Past Panel Discussion
Day Two Opening Remarks
Canada’s Resource Sector: Sustaining Growth
Keynote Speech by Ira Kalish
Day Two Closing Remarks with Adam Legge
Ottawa Session Q1 2025
A one-day working session with leading industry and public policy experts addressing tax, fiscal policy and competition policy. More event information coming soon.
Montreal Session Q1 2025
A one-day working session with leading industry and public policy experts addressing talent, skills and immigration. More event information coming soon.
Vancouver Session Q2 2025
A one-day working session with leading industry and public policy experts addressing issues with infrastructure and the transportation sector. More event information coming soon.
Halifax Session Q2 2025
A one-day working session with leading industry and public policy experts addressing interprovincial trade and regulatory efficiency. More event information coming soon.
Saskatoon Session Q3 2025
A one-day working session with leading industry and public policy experts addressing issues for the resources sector, including energy, agriculture and minerals. More event information coming soon.
Toronto Session Q4 2025
A one-day working session with leading industry and public policy experts addressing issues for the innovation and technology sectors. Event information coming soon.
General Information
productivity@ucalgary.ca
Media Inquiries
Gord Der Stepanian
gord.derstepanian@ucalgary.ca